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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chapins'.. Copyright No. 

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ShelL-^.^ 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 







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. 


































An 



DIRONDACK 


Romance 


BY 

CAROLINE WASHBURN ROCK WOOD 

> > 

AUTHOR OF 

“A Saratoga Romance,” “In Biscayne Bay,’’ 

“An East Florida Romance,” Etc. 



NEW YORK 



NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY 



156 Fifth Avenue 




r 


*v> 



Copyright 1897 

BY 

CAROLINE WASHBURN ROCKWOOD 




CONTENTS. 


Chapter. 

1. The Unexpected. 

2. Retrospection. 

3. Into the Woods. 

4. Saranac Inn and the Upper Saranac. 

5. The Waubeek. 

6. Mystery. 

7. Awakened. 

8. Ampersand and the Lower Saranac. 

9. Summer hours. 

10. Coaching to Paul Smith’s. 

11. A declaration. 

12. Various discoveries. 

13. Lost. 

14. Pain and Happiness. 

15. Mother and daughter. 

16. Lake Placid. 

17. Childwold Park and romance. 

18. A gala night. 

19. Preparations and investigations. 

20. The Island Chapel Wedding. 

21. Explanations and Exodus. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FRONTISPIECE. 

LAKE PLACID. 

SARANAC LAKE. 

“Where hill and lake and sky,” etc., 21 

Saranac Inn, - - - - - - * 29 

Restful Waubeek, ------ 39 

Blossom Bungalow, - - - - - - 42 

Across the Upper Saranac, - - - 49 u- 

“As they now were borne to the picturesque shore of 
the Ampersand,” - - - - - - 67 

The Lower Saranac from the Algonquin, - - 70 ^ 

Paul Smith’s, - - - - - - - 88 ^ 

Camp life at Paul Smith’s, 92 

A day’s excursion, ------ 104 

“ What do you say to landing on this point ?” - - 111 

The Stevens House, - - - - -137 ' 

Jolly White Face Inn, - 139 K 

“ Across the leafy ocean peeped the Ruisseaumont,” - 140 

“ There gleamed the Massawepie and beyond stretched 
Childwold,” ------ i 4 g 

“ A last pull on the Lake,” ----- 180 



Photo, K. E. McClellan 


JBelow, moonlit Xafce placid 
Xas glist'ning through tbe trees, 
tlbe fragrant balsams rustled 
Caressed b£ passing breeze ; 

XH thousand fleeting shadows 
placed o'er tbe fairs scene, 
Deiling with tender graces 
Bacb sleeping slope between. 



4 





Photo, K. E. McClellan. 


SARANAC LAKE 


















AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


i. 


Tf'AITH HOLLAND was dazed. 

All through her girlhood she had longed, 
watched and waited for something, anything that 
might deliver her from the dead level monotony of 
her New England life. 

She had built air-castles and dreamed dreams ; 
had bravely carried the burdens of genteel poverty 
and cheerfully accepted the sacrifices consequent 
upon an inheritance involving the obligations of an 
aristocrat, but furnishing an income better suited 
to the needs of obscurity. 

A natural independence, force of character and 
sunniness of disposition had made her triumphant 
over petty trials, strong in endurance and patient 
with the numerous demands made upon her by un- 
congenial surroundings, hut always underneath her 
thoughts and acts — like a strong current of wind 

helping on to its destination an ambitious bird — 

5 


6 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


existed the almost fierce determination to work out 
a broad and brilliant destiny for herself and for the 
one object of her adoration, her mother. 

And now — without slightest premonition or warn- 
ing, old Jackson had quietly dropped into her 
strangely apathetic hands the key to all her aspira- 
tions, and she had accepted it with no more interest 
or excitement than if it had been the grocer’s bill 
or the announcement that the reading club would 
next meet at Mrs. Green’s. 

Carelessly tearing open the envelope, she had 
glanced at the business sheet, looked puzzled, read 
the signature, and then with sudden exactness and 
intentness had carefully scanned every word, from 
the formal address to the equally ceremonious close. 

Then she let the letter fall from her grasp, 
through very weakness, as the amazing contents 
burned into her whirling brain, making her feel as 
one who, in a dream, clutches at a treasure with 
the double consciousness that pronounces it but an 
illusion. 

“ Oh, if it should be some other girl,” she sud- 
denly thought, and the color fled from lips and 
cheek as she stooped for the sheet and again closely 
examined each detail, turning to the envelope for 
further justification of her new hopes. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 7 

“ No ! there is no doubt about it. It is my 
name and can mean no one in this world but me. 
At last I can really live. Change, action, op- 
portunities to see the world, to know delightful 
people, to have beautiful things, to make every- 
body comfortable and happy, are mine — and 
mother's.” 

At this point in her tumultuous self-communion 
she suddenly sprang to her feet and flew across the 
room to a little mirror that hung over an old- 
fashioned dressing-table, and peered into its depths 
with eager, curious scrutiny. 

The mirror hung high and revealed only two 
deeply set hazel eyes ablaze with excitement, a 
somewhat dark complexion, a forehead quite too 
broad and high to be classic, surmounted by a 
burden of chestnut hair, cheeks that needed filling 
out, and a mouth that evidenced a determined as 
well as mercurial nature, and reflected the vivid, 
constantly changing glow that suffused the oval 
face. 

Evidently the picture did not please Faith 
Holland. 

Shaking her finger at it she denounced it roundly 
after a fashion born of much solitude. 

“ Oh, you red-faced, common-place looking crea- 


8 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


ture. Why must you be so absolutely uninterest- 
ing when so much has come to you ? 33 

Standing back from the mirror, that she might 
see more of her figure, she grew yet more scorn- 
ful, pressing her forefinger against her under 
lip and throwing her head on one side as she 
silently marked the thinness of her neck and 
arms and the general lack of roundness and 
curve. 

“ What a stick ! — Well, much is possible to 
science and art and — who knows ! I may yet pose 
as the beautiful Miss Holland. ” Laughing aloud at 
the thought she made a low courtesy to the bright 
face in the glass, turned from it suddenly as if 
possessed with a new purpose, and danced out of 
the room with the evident intention of at once 
carrying it out. 

Through the long hall, down the steep narrow 
stairway, to the library of the old country house 
that had always been her home, she swiftly parsed, 
throwing open the door with a quick noiseless 
grasp of its brass knob, and pausing for an instant 
on the threshold. 

Outside, the gray chill of a late March afternoon 
hung over the landscape and an ominous east wind 
moaned about the corners of the house, rattling 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


9 


the naked tree branches and ghostly shrubbery 
against each other. 

Within all was cheery, cosy and warm. 

A bright fire glowed on the open hearth. Before 
it was stretched Max, Faith’s great St. Bernard — 
his splendidly colored and powerful proportions 
giving a dignity to the plainly furnished room. 
Potted plants filled the southern windows and care- 
fully trained vines twined luxuriantly over the 
picture-frames and brackets. One side of the room 
was entirely given up to books, and on the other 
side stood Faith’s piano. 

Before the library table, silhouetted against the 
fast waning daylight, sat a slender figure with 
head bent and fingers working rapidly. 

Faith sprang to its side with a little cry of joy 
and tenderness. 

“ Darling, darling — it has come ! Sweet, pa- 
tient, precious heart — you shall have everything 
now. No more hard work — no more anxiety — no 
more lying awake at night planning ways and means 
to barely live respectably in this tiresome old place. 
Everybody shall see how lovely you are. ” 

Impetuous kisses upon hair, face and hands in- 
terrupted the ardent outburst, and Faith finally 
climaxed her entirely surprising behavior by throw- 


10 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


ing her arms around her mother, sinking on her 
knees at her side and hiding her face on the 
shoulder that had always been her haven of rest, 
while hysterical sobs and tears relieved the tension 
of her over- wrought nerves. 

In vain did her mother endeavor to calm her. 
In vain did she beg for an explanation of her 
strange excitement. Never had she seen her like 
that before. 

All she could do was to wait until the tempest 
passed. 

For a few moments nothing was heard in the 
darkening room but the crackling of the fire, the 
sub-growlings of Max as he dreamed of canine 
quarrels, and the gradually controlled breathing of 
the young girl. 

Mrs. Holland’s perplexity and anxiety were be- 
ginning to tell upon her, and as a last resort she 
pleaded her own weariness. 

It proved the quickest and surest way to her 
child’s composure. 

“ How selfish lam!” she cried, raising her head 
and caressing the sweet face on a level with her 
own. “ But I could not bear so much joy all at 
once. You and I have been trained to bear every- 
thing but joy, haven’t we, darling? And when 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


11 


Jackson handed me this long envelope I supposed 
it contained some manuscript returned, and crept 
upstairs with it, determined that you should not 
be bothered to-day, at any rate, for I knew you 
were hard at work. Just think ! I never even read 
the address until after I finished putting some 
things away, and I was so surprised to find it was 
for me.” She smiled now, as she held the letter 
up, trying to wisely prepare her mother for what 
had so undone her own self-control. 

“ Then I examined the handwriting, and the 
post-mark, and the address that the letter was to 
be returned to if not called for within ten days. 
Here it is. Do you know Richard Patton, Coun- 
sellor-at-Law, No. — Court Square, Boston? No? 
And directed to me, dear — see? ‘ Miss Faith 
Holland, Sturbridge, Mass/ Do not grow 
pale. There is nothing hut good news in this 
letter, and now I will read it to you. 

“ * Boston, March 28, 189 — . 
f( ‘ Miss Faith Holland , 

“ f Dear Madam : — I beg to inform you that 
my late client, Mr. Leigh Wadsworth, of this city, 
before his departure for India ten years ago, made 
his will and left it in my keeping with orders to 


12 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


retain it until his return, or, in case of his death, 
to carry out its directions promptly. 

“ f A letter dated January 30th has reached me 
to-day, announcing Mr. Wadsworth’s sudden death 
from malignant fever, and his burial by English 
friends, at Bombay. 

s< ( It now remains for me to follow his wishes as 
contained in his will, which makes you his residu- 
ary legatee, appointing your mother as sole guardian 
and executrix without bonds, and expressing but 
one contingency for your consideration, which the 
copy of the will, enclosed with this letter, explains. 

“ f As there is no one to interfere with your 
immediate possession of your inheritance, after 
probating the will, I hold myself in readiness to 
place in your mother’s hands all papers connected 
with the property, the income from which is much 
more than you are at all likely to spend. 

“ ‘ Awaiting your instructions, I remain, 
f c ‘ Yours respectfully, 

“ ‘ Richard Patton.’ ” 

As Eaith finished reading, she turned eagerly 
to her mother, expecting to see amazement and 
delight in her face, and to hear words of explana- 
tion and congratulation, but all her own enthusi- 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


13 


asm fell from her like a useless garment as she 
looked. 

Her mother's head was thrown back against the 
chair. Her eyes were full of tears that chased each 
other over her flushed cheeks and dropped un- 
heeded on her hands. Her lips, rosy and parted 
like a child’s, quivered with emotion that seemed 
to vibrate through her whole being, hut underneath 
all the agitation Faith recognized an unmistakable 
and tender, though regretful relief ; a sad but deep 
gratitude which seemed in no way connected with 
the material gain of this remarkable bequest, and 
which also, in a subtle, indefinable way, hushed 
any questioning. 

All she dared do was to caress the pretty hands 
and silently watch the finely chiseled face as it 
slowly regained its usual expression. 

At last, with a long, deep sigh, Miriam Holland 
aroused herself, and taking her daughter’s face be- 
tween her hands, earnestly gazed into her puzzled 
eyes. 

“ Dear one,” she said, “ I am so glad for you — 
so glad. It seems like a fairy-tale. You cannot 
understand all, for I cannot tell you the whole 
story, but Mr. Wadsworth was one of my earliest 
and best friends. He had a very generous heart. 


14 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


and I was — obliged — to wound it. I never knew 
until now that he quite forgave me, and — it is a 
relief — a happiness." 

She looked so young, so winsome and pathetic. 

Faith had never seen any woman she thought 
half so charming as the young mother who had 
always been her closest companion, and now she 
experienced, for the first time, the thrill of joy 
that accompanies a new and entirely unlooked-for 
and practically unlimited power to lavish upon this 
loved object every material luxury and pleasure. 

“ Be happy then, sweet little mother. Put away 
your work and let us talk. Oh, what a different 
world this seems now. I feel like flying away with 
you and doing a thousand things at once." 


II. 


1%/TIRIAM HOLLAND, sitting in the firelight, 

x looked younger and more frail than she 
really was. 

The golden hair, delicate complexion and gen- 
eral grace of outline suggested a maturity that at 
thirty-eight was but attaining its perfection, while 
the kindly shadows concealed evidences of an in- 
tensity and ripe intellectuality that a clearer view 
of the lofty brow, sensitive nostrils and firmly lined 
mouth would have revealed. 

Lor years she had fought her own battles with 
the world and won from them, single-handed and 
alone, a now constantly increasing reputation and 
income. 

It would have been no grief to her to have gone 
on in the same quiet earnest ways to the end of her 
days, so she could earn enough to keep the dear 
old house, in which her modest and somewhat con- 
servative taste found ample scope for all its home- 
making instincts, and satisfactorily provide for her 
child’s present and future. 


15 


16 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


She loved the cheerful work-room, her book-com- 
panions and all the details of her pen- work, which 
supplied both zest and maintenance to her life. 
As one after another of her dainty stories met with 
encouraging appreciation, her desire to soar higher 
in literary achievement increased ; and Faith often 
found her with flushed cheeks, so intensely absorbed 
in her writing, that she was utterly oblivious of 
having been at her desk for hours and almost resent- 
ful of even her daughters loving interruption. 

She had never known very much of the great 
hurrying world and could hardly remember the 
father and mother whose early loss left her to the 
brooding care of her mother’s sister, a gentle, lov- 
ing soul, high-bred and as puritanic as her inborn 
loving-kindness permitted, who felt her work well, 
if regretfully, completed, when Gilbert Holland, 
handsome, fascinating and well endowed with this 
world's goods, laid ardent siege to her niece's heart, 
with quick success. 

He, too, was the last of his family, and al- 
though generation after generation of Hollands had 
been born, lived and died in the house where his 
widow and daughter afterward were discovered by 
fortune's favors, at the time of his marriage he 
took his young bride to the city. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 17 

For two years no shadow clouded their happiness 
except the passing away of Miriam’s Aunt Mercy, 
who daily gave thanks for the providential arrange- 
ment that relieved her of the fears of leaving her 
niece alone in the world. 

Then business losses, months of great anxiety and 
the hand of sudden and acute disease laid low all 
those bright hopes, and left Miriam Holland alone 
in the bitterest sense of that bitter word, except 
for the one link to life — little Faith. 

When the very sunlight seemed to mock her 
desolation, she would lie on her lounge and let the 
soft hands pat her cheeks and the little downy head 
lie on her aching heart. 

It mitigated a little the terrible strain to hold the 
dimpled form close in her arms, and with every 
hour of their lives the young mother and her child 
grew more and more indispensable to each other, 
until returning strength and that implacable and 
often misunderstood friend, necessity, revealed ways 
of peace and hope through the very financial losses 
that made personal effort a duty. It was then that 
Miriam Holland went back to the old country 
homestead and took up her pen, as her weapon in 
the battle for independence. 

* * * * * * 


2 


18 AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 

Faith was built upon a large scale like her father, 
and, like him, was as impulsive and generous as she 
was affectionate. She worshipped her “ beauty 
mother '' all through her babyhood, was her con- 
stant companion through her girlhood, and now, 
in her eighteenth year, held nothing of value that 
did not include her mother's happiness. 

She knew little of the world beyond the few per- 
sonal friends admitted to her home, the church 
life and such glimpses of art and literature as could 
be obtained from school, lectures, concerts and 
books. Short trips to Boston and one summer's 
tour through the White Mountains made up the 
sum-total of her journeyings, for the income 
saved from her father's property had hardly more 
than sufficed to pay the taxes on house and land, 
and her mother's earnings had demanded the most 
prudent management to cover the expenses of their 
daily living. 

And so it came to pass that out of their cramped 
circumstances had grown a sweet and eager watch- 
fulness for each other's weal that many a mother 
and daughter, weighed down by pomps and vanities, 
secretly envied, and now that they were to be tested 
by the too often deadening touch of prosperity, it 
remained to be seen whether the self-forgetfulness 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


19 


that had hitherto crowned their darkest times with 
patience and fortitude would still triumph over the 
insatiate demon Self, and, making wings of oppor- 
tunity, soar higher and higher in the attainment of 
life’s true values. 

* * * * * * 

The first result of Faith’s inheritance was soon 
felt. 

Mother and daughter seemed temporarily to 
change places with each other. 

Faith with the mercurial adjustment of youth 
and inexperience lost no time in grasping the new 
conditions. Her mother seemed strangely and 
alarmingly weakened and undone by good fortune, 
as she never had been by all the blows of adversity. 
She laughed at her “ laziness ” as she called her 
inability to make any exertion, and said Faith 
would spoil her, hut the latter quietly took matters 
into her own hands, and with the judicious assist- 
ance of Richard Patton mapped out a plan for the 
spring and summer months, that included an early 
flitting from New England east winds to milder 
surroundings and a subsequent Adirondack season, 
having for its starting point and headquarters the 
upper Saranac, supplemented by its tributaries of 


20 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


rivers, bays, and neighboring forests ; excursions 
north, south, east, and west ; boating, fishing, 
hunting, and all that goes to making over a worn 
out and depleted body and a too hardly tried spirit 
into the renewed and gladsome embodiment of 
health and strength. 











. 




- 









































Where hill and lake and sky reflect a godlike peace. 


III. 

‘ ‘ ^TAYKE her to some place where she will be high 
and dry, with water before her and forests 
behind her ; where she can have every comfort and 
luxury that her body craves and the tonic of una- 
dulterated nature so close at hand that she will not 
realize where the dividing line lies,” said the fa- 
mous physician summoned by Faith when she did 
not know what was best to do. 

“ And above all things go where she will see no 
invalids, hear no gloomy dissertations upon phys- 
ical ills and feel no temptation to sympathize 
with anybody,” he added, as he left. 

“ How in the world am I to find such a place ? ” 
thought Faith anxiously ; but she never paused in 
her investigation of guide-books, people and other 
sources of information until one glorious July 
morning, armed with irresistible arguments, — for 
Mrs. Holland was quite content to spend the sum- 
mer by the ocean, where they had been for a 
month, — she opened her loving siege. 


21 


22 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Mother, darling, I'm tired of this place, and 
the Deans are going to the Adirondacks next week. 
Why not go with them ? You like Mrs. Dean, 
and the girls are always good company." 

“ But you do not know anything about the Ad- 
irondacks, dearie, and I'm not equal to roughing 
it," answered Mrs. Holland, inwardly hoping that 
she might stay just where she was until the 
autumn drove them home. 

“ Oh, yes, indeed I do know a great deal about 
the Adirondacks," cried Faith, settling herself 
comfortably by her mother and preparing for a 
clear and final discussion of the plans already fully 
decided upon in her own mind. “You see I have 
taken a great deal of trouble to learn all about 
the best places there. Look at all these books, 
and these letters, and here are a lot of photo- 
graphs that came this morning. I sent to Rut- 
land, Vermont, for that set. The photographer 
lives there — Chandler — but a man here who goes 
to Childwold Park every summer gave me his 
address. 

“ That package is from the author of this cun- 
ning little guide-book, ‘ The Adirondacks, Il- 
lustrated.' He is a wonderfully clever man — 
photographer, lecturer, and writes books. His 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


23 


name is Stoddard and he lives in Glens Falls, New 
York. 

“ Then there are the Bigelows, who have spent 
season after season up there, moving about from 
place to place, and Mrs. Bigelow says you can be 
exactly as comfortable or as uncomfortable as you 
please. You can live in a fine modern hotel and 
not find anything lacking that you get in the city 
palaces, or you can go to small and unpretentious 
houses where bed and hoard are good, but you 
do most of your own waiting, or all of it. Then 
there are all sorts of camps, just as there are cot- 
tages here, and after that comes regular * rough- 
ing 9 through wild regions with guides. 

“ Now this is what we should do. Go to New 
York Monday, quite at our leisure, any time we 
please, stay over night at your favorite hotel, 
and take the train the next morning from the 
Grand Central Station for Saranac Inn, on the 
Adirondack branch of the New York Central 
Bailroad. 

“ Grace Bigelow says the whole ride is enchant- 
ing up the Hudson and through the lovely Mo- 
hawk Yalley right into the country and woods. 
Oh, dearest ! do you not long to smell the pines 
and see the mountains ? I do. You can lie on a 


24 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


lounge all the way and just feast your eyes. Then 
we get out at Saranac Inn Station and coach right 
through the woods for two miles to the Inn, where 
we have supper and stay oyer night.” 

“ I thought the Bigelows said that the Inn was 
a charming old place with a beautiful view and 
the very choicest patronage. Why not stay 
there ? ” asked Mrs. Holland. 

“ Because you are ordered to go where you can 
be on high ground, and I am told that the Waw- 
beek stands higher above and nearer to the lake 
than any other hotel. The upper Saranac is nine 
miles long. Saranac Inn is at its northern end 
and the Wawbeek is near the southern end. We 
take a steamer for the lake journey, and, dearest, 
if you are willing, we will go right into a cottage 
next the hotel. Here is a photograph of it. You 
can be as quiet or as gay as you like there, and 
have no more care than if we lived in a hotel. 
Indeed ” — with a bright beguiling smile — “I have 
had the refusal of it ever since April.” 

Mrs. Holland could not resist her child’s en- 
thusiasm nor question the evidently well-planned 
arrangement ; so putting aside any lingering re- 
grets, she acquiesced, at least cheerfully, only 
stipulating that the Deans should be invited to 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


25 


share the cottage — “for they will be agreeable 
companions, and the young people'will make your 
summering much more cheerful than it would be 
alone with me.” 

After properly resenting the implication involved 
in her mother’s modest platform, Faith, with her 
usual impetuosity, ran away to confer with the 
Deans, and finding them glad to accept so pleasant 
an offer, proceeded at once with the necessary 
preparations. 

So it came to pass that on the twelfth of July, 
the party of six, with maids and baggage, found 
themselves borne luxuriously along the shores of 
the majestic Hudson, through old Albany with its 
monument of political extravagance ; through all 
the quaint Dutch towns of the Mohawk Valley, 
pausing at Utica, the little city of more classic 
name than appearance, to see crowds of men, 
women and children crush into the cars, laden 
with camping outfits, and exchanging about the 
same salutations that meet the ear on any of the 
beaches. 

“ Have you been in before ?” 

“ Are you just going in ?” 

“ Will you stay in long ?” etc. 

“ How funny !” said Faith to Jack Dean, a big. 


26 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


burly fellow just out of Harvard. “ What do they 
mean ?” 

“ That is the proper term ; in and out signify 
entering or leaving the Adirondack region,” he 
answered as they stopped in their tramp up and 
down the platform to watch a noisy group of boys 
as they pushed their way through the throng with 
less courtesy than vigor, but with such enthusiasm 
that no one could look into their happy faces and 
bear them any malice, even if they did happen to 
get jostled. 

“ Got your guide ?” asked one city sport of an- 
other, who evidently had just come out to meet 
him. 

“ Yes, he’s waiting for us at Paul’s, and what he 
doesn’t know about the woods don’t count. Hurry 
up. The train is starting.” 

Off it puffed — out of the heat, and glare, and 
dust, and jangle of the cities, through the velvet-car- 
peted fields and mossy meadows, steadily up-grade, 
among the foot-hills and shadowed balsam-scented 
woods, with glimpses of farm-life, country homes, 
stretches of silent forests, lonely cabins, the more 
modern stations at intervals — with a logging-camp 
near by, and hundreds of crystal rivulets, ponds 
and lakes studding the emerald reaches, until, just 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


27 


as the sun went down behind the tall pines, they 
were released from their confinement and stepped 
out upon the Saranac Inn Station platform, to find 
“ Eli ” and the Tally-ho ready for the next stage of 
the journey. 

“ What delicious odors ! " exclaimed Mrs. Hol- 
land as she breathed deep and long of the pure 
fragrance. “ I must ride on top and get all I pos- 
sibly can of it. Yes, dear ; I would not miss 
it for anything.” 

Faith could scarcely credit her ears. Her deli- 
cate, timid mother insisting upon being helped 
to the top of the coach when twenty-four hours 
before no inducement could have dragged her, 
willingly, from her lounge. 

“ What will the end be if this is only the begin- 
ning ?" she thought, but sensible Jack's matter-of- 
fact voice saved her from making a fatal mistake. 

“ Of course you are going on top, Mrs. Holland. 
Where else would anybody go, that could help 
themselves ? Just trust me. I'll sit next to you 
nnd keep you steady. Everybody has to get used 
to these mountain roads, you know. There ! now, 
Miss Faith, you take the other side. Mother, you 
mid the girls will just fill the next seat. So. How 
we are all right. Go ahead, Eli." 


28 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


What a heavenly calm ; what an abiding peace, 
in those whispering pines, white-robed birches and 
feathery nndergrowths ! 

How suddenly and how absolutely blotted out of 
remembrance the outside world with its cares, 
pleasures and responsibilities ! 

How impossible to hate or to haste, with such 
stately and time-honored companionship ! 

And so Faith Holland and her party went in to 
the two months of experience, new, unexpected and 
curiously varied. 




Saranac Inn. — “Dear to many generations 



IV. 



'HE first glimpse of Saranac Inn, with its old- 


fashioned and now comparatively inconspicu- 
ous original buildings, outnumbered and overtopped 
by more modern and roomy additions ; its charming 
old-time gardens and woodland background, with 
the lake spread before it, across which Whiteface, 
Ampersand and Seward, with a whole battalion of 
foot-hills rest against the eastern horizon like veter- 
ans taking a well-earned season of repose, while to 
the North the St. Regis Mountains keep dignified 
guard over the island-dotted Upper Saranac as it 
gleams away to the southward a good eight miles 
— acted like an electric shock upon Faith, whose 
nature responded keenly to beauty in any form, and 
whose fresh, inexperienced enthusiasm seemed to 
Jack Dean only less fascinating than her absolute 
unconsciousness of self. 

“ Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! ” she cried, as the coach swung 
out of the forest-road onto the circling drive-way 
before the Inn. 


“ Be careful. Faith : you will fall off. Do sit 

29 


30 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


down, dear," begged her mother, clutching at the 
girl's skirts desperately. 

“ But did you ever see anything half so entranc- 
ing as those mountains flooded in this soft, rosy 
light ? " — for out of the woods the sun still held 
sway, although shorn of its fierceness and just sink- 
ing behind the horizon. 

“Better economize your superlatives. Miss Faith. 
This is fine, and no mistake, but it is your first 
look and you've a good many more before you," 
said Jack, as he passed his long arm behind Mrs. 
Holland and quietly but firmly laid a restraining 
hand upon the field-glass strap that was securely 
fastened across Faith's back. 

Faith had neither eyes nor ears for him at that 
moment, but the realization of being conspicuous, 
as Eli brought the coach around to the side of the 
hotel with a grand flourish, necessitated a sudden 
resumption of her seat, and very soon the entire 
party were comfortably quartered in their respect- 
ive rooms, impatient for the good supper awaiting 
them, and full of wonder and delight over the new 
life and vigor that seemed to have taken possession 
of their erstwhile invalid, Mrs. Holland. 

“Just look at her," whispered Faith to Emma 
Dean. “Would you ever believe it? I couldn't 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


31 


induce her to have her supper sent up to her room. 
Doesn’t she look too sweet with that pink in her 
cheeks ? Oh, I knew mountain air was what she 
needed.” 

The next morning the entire party met at an 
unusually early and most bountiful breakfast, with 
appetites that Jack Dean declared “ nothing seemed 
to touch.” 

“ It is honest hunger born of pure air and nature’s 
healing quiet,” said Mrs. Holland, proudly calling 
for a third snowy biscuit. 

She had gained enough flesh and color during 
the spring and early summer to make her fair type 
of beauty wonderfully youthful and fresh, while te 
Faith every day seemed to bring a new charm. 

Her mother had told her a few weeks before that 
she desired a photograph of her before she went 
into the woods, that the change made during the 
summer might be appreciated. “ For if you gain 
as rapidly for the next few months as you have 
the last, you will be obliged to diet.” 

Faith laughed. “ The idea of my ever being 
stout ! It seems too absurd — but really, mother, 
darling, it frightens me to be so perfectly happy. 
Sometimes I dream that all this new life is only a 
dream, and I awake crying. It was hard enough 


32 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


to bear things before we ever knew freedom from 
anxiety, but now ! Heavens ! it would be too hor- 
rible to have to go back. Dear,” and the girl’s 
voice actually trembled, “you know the one re- 
quest that the will made, — suppose anything ever 
should happen that would compel a choice between 
honor and fortune : do you think it ever can come 
to that ? ” 

Mrs. Holland’s face looked serious. 

“ If it should, Faith, will it not be time enough to 
face the test when it is made ? Don’t shadow the 
present with the fear of what I see no sort of danger 
of ever happening.” 

sjs ❖ * sj< 

On this July morning, no girl in all the woods 
seemed more blithe than Faith as she started off 
for a tramp with the Dean girls and their brother, 
the mothers preferring to sit on the piazza and 
feast their eyes without effort. 

The Dean girls were stately in height and bear- 
ing, overtopping Faith by an inch or two. They 
were handsome, genial, sensible young women of 
sterling qualities, varied accomplishments and affec- 
tionate natures. Margaret, or, as every one called 
her, “ Daisy,” was the elder and the stronger of 
the two, and naturally took the lead, but Emma 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


33 


was her complete counterpart, and neither seemed 
content without the other. 

J ack Dean was their ste^-brother, whose devotion 
was essential and as unquestioned as their mother's. 
Most people thought him Mr. Dean's son, the 
second marriage of his mother having taken place 
when he was a tiny boy, and the relations between 
his step-father and himself having always been ex- 
ceedingly close and tender, including also his legal 
adoption and change of name. 

Neither Faith nor her mother knew the Deans 
prior to their sea-side acquaintance of several weeks ; 
but propinquity, mutual friends and kindred tastes 
had forced an unusually confidential and pleasant 
feeling between both the seniors and juniors of 
the two families, and the plan of continuing their % 
intercourse through the summer was mutually ac- 
ceptable. 

Mrs. Dean was a typical American gentlewoman 
of the conservative, energetic order, who carried 
her responsibilities as guardian of her children, and 
manager of her own and their large financial in- 
terests, with good judgment and a success born of 
rather exceptional commercial instincts. 

Quite naturally Mrs. Holland found her experi- 
ence and advice valuable in many ways, especially 
3 


34 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


as both women were equally desirous of gaining 
the golden medium between generous and gracious 
liberality and anything in the least approaching 
vulgar ostentation. 

If Jack Dean found Faith Holland a degree more 
interesting than his sisters — on occasions — he did 
not yet realize it, nor did they. 

As for Faith, she had seen little of men, old or 
young, and while she liked Jack and was glad 
he was big and strong and good-looking — as girls 
choose their men friends to be, — and felt a certain 
sense of protection and dignity in having him one 
of the party, she did not prefer his company to 
that of his sisters except when it was a question of 
needing his help at the sail, oar or rein. 

Sea-shore life does not develop intimacy between 
young people so rapidly as do woodland solitudes 
and mountain tramps. 

It is a question, if Faith Holland and Jack Dean 
could have looked forward even a short six weeks, 
on that morning in early July, whether either of 
them would have gone any further “ in ” — but no 
thought of sentiment troubled them as they strolled 
down the shore-road past the pretty camps, and 
climbed the hill to the rustic church, before return- 
ing to the Inn. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


35 


The Saranac” left the landing for its southern 
lake trip at half-past two, and every moment of the 
time spent en route to the Wawbeek Hotel was a 
delight. 

The neat little mail-bags belonging to the various 
camps were delivered, in turn, by genial John 
Clark, the popular purser, and the Captain liked 
nothing better than answering questions and giving 
information. 

They stopped for a moment at the Ward camp, 
to let a tiny, curly-headed boy, followed by his 
comparatively immense dog, make a pretty pre- 
tense of carrying the mail-bag up the rocky path- 
way, assisted, when necessary, by more mature 
strength. 

Then they steamed down the lake and around 
a heavily wooded point to the Warren, USTichol, 
Howell and Jackson camps — a rustic frontage of 
picturesque summer homes that always captivates 
the tourist's fancy. 

Another curve brought the “ Saranac ” in sight 
of the spacious Swenson camp, so quaintly simple 
without and attractive within, where house parties 
of clever men and women delight to test a perfect 
hospitality from June to October. Having delivered 
mail and freight, they passed onward through Bun- 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


galow Bay, by the pine-embowered White Camp and 
the neighboring Ferris camps on the left, and the 
lofty, rockbound Kissell camp on the right, into 
the broad bay that forms the southern end of the 
upper Saranac ; and in a few moments more glided 
up to the rustic landing of the Wawbeek, amidst 
a confusion of enthusiastic exclamations. 

“ What a charming location ! ” said Mrs. Holland. 

“ Mother dear, look at that belt of mountains ! ” 
cried Faith, as her eyes swept the horizon, finally 
resting upon the slopes and curves of Bartlett 
Hill, Stony Creek Mountain and Seward in the 
south, with the beach-edged points of the western 
shore scallopping towards them from their present 
point of inspection. 

“ And look to the east,” said Daisy Dean. 
“ The captain says that nearest peak is Boot-Bay 
Mountain. Isn't that an odd name ? The moun- 
tain across this bay is Ampersand, and away over 
beyond Boot-Bay are Saddle-Back and White- 
Face. The Club House is in those pine woods. 
You can see the top of it.” 

A quick glance passed between Emma Dean 
and her sister that Jack caught. 

“The Club House, by Jove ! Murray is there. 
I had quite forgotten him.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


37 


If they had not been obliged to go ashore at 
that moment some interesting remarks might have 
followed, but the “ Saranac” could waste no time 
waiting for untimely explanations, and the party 
were soon ascending the curving plank walk to 
the entrance of the Wawbeek Hotel. 

‘ f The circular says this is an easy ascent/’ 
puffed Jack, who certainly stood in great need of 
regular exercise. 

“ Well, what can you expect when you insist 
upon being near the lake and yet high above it ? 
It certainly is as easy as it can be made. Kow, 
mother dear, sit right down in this pretty sum- 
mer-house and get the view and your breath,” 
said Faith, her eyes shining with delight, and her 
scorn of “ Jack’s laziness ” quickly erased by the 
wonderful beauty of the living panorama spread 
before her. 






















































































* 


























































































































































































































































Restful Waubeek ; set apart from all the noise and strife ; 
Nested in the very heart of Nature’s tranquil life.” 


y. 


THE AVAWBEEK. 

“ A big rock ” in a lovely land ; 

Smiling Sam-nin-i-pus just at thy feet ; 

The tangled spicy groves on either hand, 

And breath of forests, vales and blossoms sweet, 
Vying with views of hills and mountains high 
That elevate the soul and charm the eye. 

" TTILLSIDE COTTAGE,” in its rural setting, 
filled, tne entire party with supreme content. 
“ And to think that a week ago I was dreading 
Adirondack roughing,” exclaimed Mrs. Holland, 
as she passed through the airy rooms, noted the 
solidity of furniture, the pretty rugs and dainty 
decorations, the great open fire-places filled with 
logs quite ready to light, and all the comforts that 
modem skill and taste can command. 

“ The inside certainly is delightful, but look 
out of these back windows,” cried Daisy Dean. 
“ There is a fine lawn-tennis ground. Jack, and 
you are doomed to many a defeat on it before the 


40 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


season is over — and what dear woods all about. 
We must explore them.” 

‘• And get lost,” remarked Jack. “Now, girls, 
this is not Central Park, and you must not go off 
alone anywhere. We will engage a guide at once 
and have proper leadership — but primeval forests 
look about alike to untutored eyes anywhere out- 
side of familiar land-marks, and it would be no fun 
to anybody to have you wandering aimlessly about 
for a day or two when an afternoon tramp was all 
you bargained for.” 

“ I have read somewhere,” said Emma, “ that 
the Adirondacks are the safest woods in the world 
— no tramps, no wild animals, no snakes ; not even 
poisonous vines and leaves, and the guides are the 
most honest and the kindest and the best of men, ” 
— pulling the pins out of her hat and throwing it 
aside as she went to the long mirror that filled the 
space between the front windows of the parlor, to 
investigate the state of her wind-tossed locks. 

Jack shrugged his shoulders. “ If you got lost, 
my dear girl, you would regret the absence of the 
first, not believe in that of the second, think noth- 
ing about the third and fourth, and simply pray for 
the appearance of the last, whether good, bad or 
indifferent. The Adirondacks without a guide 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


41 


are a good deal worse than Saratoga without horses. 
Of course you can walk about within sight of the 
hotel and you can row yourself about on the lake 
and some of the rivers, but to get the true quality 
of this life we ought to spend at least every other 
day, from morning to night, out-of-doors, making 
exploring expeditions and seeing all we can of what 
isn’t right on the outside.” 

“You are quite right, Jack,” said his mother, 
“ and I think you had better lose no time in en- 
gaging guides. Is there anything else we must 
attend to without delay ? ” 

“ I want a boat, and intend rowing myself every 
day, before breakfast, for muscle,” said Faith, 
whereupon a perfect roar of derision and incre- 
dulity burst upon the evening air — for early rising 
had never been considered Faith Holland’s strong 
point ; but she only smiled good-naturedly as she 
asked the girls and Jack if they did not feel like 
strolling down to the boat-house and selecting what 
they needed. 

“ It is such a glorious moonlight that it is posi- 
tively stupid to stay indoors.” 

They had already looked over the public rooms 
of the hotel, had a cordial welcome from the court- 
eous manager, enjoyed the hearty supper in their 


42 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


pleasant corner of the dining-room, and decided 
that their waitress was thoroughly satisfactory. 

“I am quite delighted with the home-feeling 
there seems to be in this place,” said Daisy as they 
stepped out into the summer night and stood a mo- 
ment on the rustic piazza spellbound by the en- 
chanting picture before them. The moon was in 
its glory. In the near left-hand foreground “ Blos- 
som Bungalow ” nestled in its framework of vines, 
shrubbery and close-shaved lawns — its gables and 
tiny tower sharply cutting the outer borders of cir- 
cling forest and dimpling lake. On the left rose 
the roofs and wing of the Wawbeek, the rooms 
all alight, the piazzas resounding with footstej3S, 
happy voices and the swish of womanly apparel. 
The gleaming lake, distant mountains and inter- 
vening foot-hills in the foreground completed the 
scene ; and so calm, restful and uplifting was the 
influence of the hour upon each of the quartette 
that words seemed superfluous. 

All at once the overture from 0 heron floated 
out from the hotel music-room. True, pure and 
enticing, the violin sang its charming theme ; rich 
and vibrant, the ’cello sustained the lovely harmony, 
as the pianist sensitively and skilfully supplemented 
the other instruments. 


Blossom Bungalow. — “ The very spot for Summer dreams and living pictures, in and out. 






















































































* 





AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


43 


“ That is no ordinary hotel trio/* said Faith. 
“ They play like artists. I must see what they 
look like.” 

Swiftly, quietly, they passed down the path to 
the piazza steps of the hotel and in a moment were 
peering through a window almost within touch of 
the piano. 

“ They are all girls/* whispered Emma to Jack, 
who was crowded out of sight. “ Sweet-looking 
girls, too. They seem so unconscious and earnest. 
My ! but they do play well. Let us sit down and 
listen for a while. We can go to the boat-house 
later. It will be fun to watch the people too.** 

“ Mr. Jack/* called Faith from the next window, 
“ I can make room for you here. Isn’t this cool 
and comfortable ? I*m glad it is so shadowed, for 
everybody is dressed and we look like tramps. I 
wish the music would begin again. Oh ! what a 
beautiful woman ! Girls ! girls ! come here and 
look. You can’t see her from where you are. I 
can see everything and everybody. Isn’t she a 
picture ? ” 

Faith’s enthusiastic summons, following her idle 
inspection of the group seated in the music-room, 
brought the entire quartette to the next window, 
and directly in front of them, in the light of a rose- 


44 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


shaded lamp, they saw what Faith from that mo- 
ment always called “The Lady Beautiful.” 

From the soft clustery hair that crowned her 
fine head to the edge of her silken skirts she was a 
poem in silver, only excepting marvellous violet 
eyes and a complexion that triumphantly defied the 
usual results of time and outdoor life. 

She seemed the centre of a group of friends, and 
while intently embroidering a piece of elaborate 
work, talked and smiled, with her eyes seldom 
raised, until the trio began a favorite selection, 
when she laid her work down and gave her entire 
attention to the music. 

“ I do hope I shall know her,” said Faith. “ Isn’t 
she lovely ! Oh ! just suppose she is only here for 
a day or two. Mr. Jack, would you mind trying to 
find out something about her, for me ? ” 

Jack Dean was too good-natured to refuse such 
an urgent request, and sauntered off, soon returning 
with the information obtained from the desk that 
“ The Lady Beautiful ” was the occupant of Blos- 
som Bungalow and was to spend the season at Waw- 
beek. 

“ Isn’t that delightful ? ” cried Faith. “ She 
is sure to grow fond of Mrs. Dean and mamma, and 
we shall have the pleasure at least of watching her.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


45 


“You are very modest. Miss Faith,” said Jack 
as he settled himself in a chair at her side. “ Let 
me tell you what I have learned about some others 
in that group. Notice the chestnut-haired beauty 
next your ‘ Lady B.' She is a Bostonian ; is here 
for the season, and makes a sensation whatever she 
does. Yes, her face is almost perfect, isn't it ? Next 
her is her sister-in-law ; fine presence and style ? 
See the little woman over there by the door fan- 
ning herself and nodding her head at the music ? 
I'm told she has a heart as big as her purse and is 
always doing generous things. She is Zelie de 
Luzan's sister ; sings too, but as a fashionable 
amateur. Next her is her intimate friend, the 
wife of her husband's partner. Do you see that 
stately woman the other side of the table ? — the 
one shading her eyes with a fan ; — she is visiting 
your charmer at Blossom Bungalow, and is one of 
New York's philanthropists as well as an enthusi- 
astic supporter of the best music : a lovable face, 
is it not ? 

“ That dark-haired, bright-eyed little woman 
beyond her is worth looking at too. Perhaps you 
will hear her play before the evening is over. She 
is Mrs. Hendricks, a wealthy New Yorker, whose 
name stands high as an amateur pianist, and the 


46 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


manager tells me she also composes very good 

songs. Ah ! Madame R is going to sing. 

What did she say ? ** 

Faith could not understand the impromptu an- 
nouncement made, but it was easy to infer its pur- 
port, when Mrs. Hendricks, bowing her acknowl- 
edgments to the hand-clapping that followed, sat 
down at the piano and accompanied Mrs. R. in a 
dainty rendering of “ The Rose Loved One." 

The pantomimic attitude of singer and player 
to each other and to the audience amply proved the 
song to he of Mrs. Hendricks* composition. She 
was modestly delighted, thanking the singers and 
the people present generally for their appreciation, 
and everybody looked pleased. 

“It is a charming song ; not unlike a Schumann 
bit/* said Faith. “ It must be a wonderful pleas- 
ure to be able to compose music. It seems quite 
beyond the reach of any but the inspired.** 

“ You love music very honestly,** said Jack. 
“ I suppose you have been to the Bagby recitals 
some time. No ? Oh ! I forgot you were a Bos- 
tonian, and not yet out. You seem so mature and 
independent always.** 

“I am old enough to have travelled and seen 
much more than I have, but mamma and I never 


AN ADIRONDACK KOMANCE. 


47 


have been away from home a great deal. Tell me 
about the Bagby recitals.” 

“ They are awfully swagger things. The nicest 
people are glad to get a chance to go to them. 
Mr. Bagby is the author of the musical book 
that made such a hit — ‘Miss Traumerei.' He is a 
pianist, teacher and social favorite, who arranges 
these Monday morning programs through the 
New York season, where — if you can get a ticket 
— you can hear the greatest artists and come near 
enough to them to get a fair idea of their per- 
sonality. Fve been to them once or twice. See 
that couple outside the front window. They are 

Mrs. S , of Philadelphia, and her husband. 

They are minus their daughter, which I regret, as 
I met her in Paris and liked her immensely. She 
is more fond of people than solitudes and prefers 
Newport to Wawbeek. Mrs. S. has the reputation 
of dressing better than any other woman here, but 
to my mind that is the least of her charms, which 
is saying a good deal, isn't it ? ” 

“ How do you know so much about her ? 99 asked 
Faith. 

“ Through Miss S., who adores her.” 

Just then a large blonde man came into the 
music-room and everybody looked expectant. He 


48 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


said a few words to the musicians, took a piece of 
music from the piano, and, throwing back his 
shoulders and head, awaited the opening notes of 
“The Best of All." A little subdued clapping 
ran around the room ; people crowded to the doors, 
and it was evident the newcomer was popular as a 
singer, as well as a guest. 

As his dramatic barytone vibrated through the 
crowded rooms every one stopped talking. The 
musicians seemed in perfect sympathy with him, 
and the effect was impressive. 

“ That man ought to be in Grand Opera,” said 
Jack Dean. “He has the presence, voice and 
temperament — a very rare combination. Why in 
the world isn’t he ? ” 

Daisy had watched the singer narrowly, often 
letting her eyes wander about the handsome rooms, 
and then return to his earnest face. She made up 
her mind that perhaps much the same capacity for 
making things harmonious is demanded of the 
modernBoniface that is commonly considered the 
distinctive attainment of the tone-artist. 



' 

































Across the Upper Saranac to the Club House. 


VI. 

TTAVIN G secured guides and boats, the desire was 
^ general to use them, and the next day proving 
fair and not too warm, everybody agreed at the 
breakfast table to make a morning trip across the 
lake to the Club House, first skirting the southern 
shores to, as Faith said, “ get our bearings.” 

“ I cannot make this direction seem like south,’ 9 
said Mrs. Holland as she took her seat in the stern 
of the boat, followed by Faith, who established her- 
self in the centre chair, although much disposed to 
try her own skill at the oars. 

“ We came in straight north from IJtica to Sara- 
nac Inn Station, or nearly so. Do you remember 
the curve of the road, from there to the Inn ? ” 
answered Faith. 

“Ho; I thought we turned toward the east. 
The bend did not seem to appeal to me at all. ” 

“ That is not strange,” said Faith, comfortingly, 
as she watched the shore they were now passing. 

“ What is this first point ? — the Wawbeek day- 
4 49 


50 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


camp ? A nice place to take a book to ; that is a 
jolly looking little cluster of cabins — New Yorkers ! 
And this next one is a beauty ; Seligman, did you 
say, guide ? Now that just suits me, mother. The 
views must be superb and the trees are so fine. 
This is quite a peak we are passing now. Panther 
Mountain, did you say ? And we can walk to the 
top of it ? I must wait a while, for you to accom- 
pany me, mother dear.” 

“ Not long, if this appetite and sleeping capacity 
keep on,” cheerfully answered Mrs. Holland. 

As the procession of boats approached the land- 
ing at Rustic Lodge, Emma Dean suddenly started, 
glanced hastily at Daisy, who was looking up the 
lake, and then fixed her eyes upon a man who was 
just pulling his boat on to the shore. 

Her face evidenced extremely mixed feelings. 
Neither unalloyed pleasure nor displeasure could so 
quickly have changed her entire expression. 

Certainly she was not indifferent to the sports- 
man, but whether he was friend or foe was a ques- 
tion. 

Her brother was in the third boat with her 
mother. As he was rowing he could not see the 
landing without special effort, so only Emma 
watched the process of beaching the boat, and saw 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


51 


him straighten his tall figure and carelessly glance 
toward the new arrivals. 

Quickly leaning forward and touching Daisy, 
Emma whispered, “ There he is — do be careful.” 

Then the confusion of landing began, and it was 
another minute or two before Jack perceived the 
still waiting figure and sprang toward it. “ Hullo, 
Murray — old man ! What are you doing here ? 
I’m jolly glad to see you. Mother, here is my 
chum, Ned Murray : Mrs. Holland, Miss Holland, 
my friend — Mr. Murray : my sisters, Ned.” 

Edward Murray went through the introduction 
with tactful dignity on the whole, but a more 
puzzled man than he seldom doffed cap. 

Too clever to fail in meeting any demand of 
social conventionality, however he might be taken 
unawares, he greeted Mrs. Dean with the hearti- 
ness naturally expected toward J ack’s mother, Mrs. 
Holland and Faith with respectful courtesy, and 
the Dean girls with impartial, if perhaps slightly 
exaggerated, ceremony. 

“ Are you going across this carry?” he asked 
generally, as he looked across Mrs. DeaiTs boat at 
her daughters, who w^ere apparently lost in con- 
templation of the old log-cabin ruin on the shore. 

Jack answered for the party. 


52 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ We are making our first tour of inspection and 
are open to suggestions. Where will this carry 
take us ? How long is it ? ” 

“ Only a mile. The first of the Stony Creek 
ponds lies at the other end. I fancy you will go over 
it a good many times before the season has ended in 
getting to Raquette River and points North and 
South, so perhaps you would rather skirt the lake 
first. Have you been to the Club House yet ? I 
am such a tramp through the days that I may have 
missed you,” said Murray, as he helped the ladies 
land. 

“No, we have not been anywhere yet,” said 
Mrs. Dean. “ I think this place must be one of 
the first clearings. • What a primitive house ! Let 
us walk up to it and get the view. Mr. Murray, if 
you are not already started upon an expedition of 
your own, why not join us ? ” 

“ Don't risk any such alluring invitations, my 
dear madam, unless you desire me to accept 
them,” answered Murray, with alacrity. “ Miss 
Dean, may I show you some Adirondack drawings 
founded on facts commonly called fish ? Here 
are the pictures of famous catches” — pointing to 
the wall of the little hotel on the western side, 
where several huge lake trout were roughly 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


53 


sketched, with date, weight and fisherman’s 
name. 

“ Do you care for fishing. Miss Dean?” he 
asked, as they stood apart from the rest for a 
moment, apparently absorbed in inspecting the 
record before them. 

Daisy Dean looked straight before her, thankful 
for the diversion of interest that attracted the rest 
of the party to other points and comforted by the 
knowledge that faithful Emma was just around 
the corner, near enough to protect her from any 
too sudden interruption. 

“I hate it,” she answered with unwarrantable 
passion. 

“ Have you always hated it ? ” questioned Mur- 
ray, leaning against the house and peering into the 
flushed face. 

She turned her eyes upon him with a look that 
spoke volumes. 

It indicated mortification, anger, perplexity and 
a kind of courage that savored strongly of des- 
peration. 

“ Mr. Murray, I have hated it for — years — and 
shall continue to hate it my whole life. Let us 
change the subject ” 

“ No,” interrupted Murray, as she turned to leave 


54 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


him. “ By no means. Madge — or whatever name 
you prefer, if that is not yours — I have never hated 
fishing and cannot learn to even dislike it. Look at 
me, please. Why do you doubt my readiness to ac- 
cept this new position, so long as you are frank and 
fair ? Does your sister distrust me ? By J ove ! 
how should I ever have guessed you were Jack's 
sisters. Why on earth did you not tell me ? '' 

“ How should ice know you were Jack's chum P 
Why did you not tell us ? " demanded Daisy. 
“ When Jack said his friend Murray was at the 
Club House, Emma and I understood like a flash 
that the ‘Ned Murray' he was always talking 
about must be — you. It would be simply ridic- 
ulous to try and explain matters now, and all 
you can do is to begin all over — if you think it 
worth while. You really cannot expect me to tell 
Jack I have known you for five years and agreed 
to meet you up here. I do wish you would go 

away until I can think out our best plan, for " 

“ Madge, if you say so I will go to-morrow, but 
think what we shall lose ; all this summer up here 
in the open — and for what ? Simply nothing. Y ou 
are clever enough to gracefully carry through what- 
ever you begin. Play the roll of a friendly interest 
in your brother's chum and leave the rest to me." 


AX ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


55 


Daisy glanced at him, half persuaded, half re- 
luctant. 

“ I hate acting as much as I do — fishing ; Chris 
• — or whatever may be your name — you must be- 
have perfectly, if you stay, and — what is your 
name, by the way ? 99 

“ Edward Christopher Murray, at your service. 
— f Ned* to my men friends and * Chris ’ to — you. 
Why not ? Excuse me, but yours is ? ” 

“ Margaret Warrington Dean. Yes, I was half 
ashamed of that' school-girl correspondence and 
never signed my last name, so when I saw you at 
the exposition I did not explain. Emma knew, 
but no one else. — Yes, mamma, we are coming. 
Now, Mr. Murray, let us hope that all the big fish 
are not yet caught. I hate fishing, but Jack 
never will rest until he comes somewhere near 
this record, if he cannot break it.” 

Who could have guessed that this high-bred 
creature with the fearless eyes, stately carriage 
and clear, vibrant voice, who turned to her friends 
so coolly, was the puzzled, uncomfortable girl of 
ten minutes before ! 

Emma looked at her with amazement. 

Edward Christopher Murray looked at her with 
admiration. 





VII. 


T^AITH HOLLAND had a positive genius for 
never appearing to see what it was wise to be 
blind to, but was far too discerning not to appre- 
ciate the fact that her comparatively new friend, 
Daisy Dean, had wonderfully awakened during the 
morning’s outing, and when they stood on the 
Saranac Club House piazza, later in the day, she 
whispered something to her that made the color 
surge to Daisy’s very temples. 

“ Nonsense,” she answered. “ He is Jack’s 
friend, you know.” 

At which remark Faith smiled and enlarged 
upon the loveliness of the pastoral scene before 
them and the beauty of the pine growth all about 
them. 

Jack asked her if she liked the location better 
than that of the Wawbeek. 

“ Not a bit alike, are they ? ” she answered. 
“Here you have just what you would naturally 
expect in the woods — pines, shady walks, glimpses 
of mountains, rivers and lakes. It is sweetly 

57 


58 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


sylvan and restful ; a beautiful spot ; but I love to 
be up high with things spread out before me, so I 
prefer the Wawbeek outlook for a steady thing ; 
but it is like comparing two beautiful paintings, 
quite unlike each other, and both masterpieces. I 
think that in some moods these woods must be 
most beguiling ; for instance — two lovers, like — 
no, I won’t say another word/' and merrily laugh- 
ing at Jack’s really puzzled expression, Faith 
joined the rest of the party and all turned their 
faces Wawbeek- ward, tilled with widely differing 
thoughts. 

Ned Murray saw them across the lake and said, 
as he left them at the cottage, “ I think I’ll have 
my traps brought over, Jack, as you suggest. It 
is awfully jolly to have people you know close at 
hand, in the woods.” 


VIII. 


ACK DEAN and Ned Murray were as loyal 



friends as old Harvard ever graduated, but as 
strikingly opposite in disposition, character and 
appearance as two men of about the same age and 
social environment well could be. While Dean 
was digesting an idea Murray could act upon it 
and forget it ; not because Dean was stupid, but 
his mind like his body was solid, heavy and slow, 
while Murray was a mercurial creature whose very 
walk showed his impetuous, erratic nature. 

The two friends supplemented each other capi- 
tally, and if pleasure-loving Ned was often the 
gainer in time and freedom to indulge his social 
proclivities while Jack was plodding for both, it 
must be confessed that the former saved the latter 
many a mistake by his keen intuitions, quick wits 
and watchful devotion, and it is hard to decide 
which was of most value to the other, in the long 
run of college life. 

Ned had never visited Jack^s home, and, so far 


59 


60 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


as the latter knew, never had met any of his 
family ; so the cordial friendliness that evidently 
existed between his sisters and his friend was at- 
tributed to Ned’s “ ways/’ which every one who 
knew him, both male and female, pronounced 
“ awfully fetching.” 

To be sure, it did puzzle Jack to see his hitherto 
conservative sister Margaret succumb so quickly ; 
but perhaps he gave less thought to the matter 
than he otherwise would have given, if the days 
had not been altogether too short for his own 
study of Faith Holland, and, whether he knew it 
or not, it was a relief to have his sisters so well 
attended, when he desired the sole society of the 
object of his constantly-increasing admiration, on 
the lake or in the enchanting shadows of the en- 
circling forests. 

There were several tramps, diverging in various 
directions from Hillside Cottage, that seemed ex- 
ceptionally suited to Jack’s present study of the 
old, old story. 

Off to the north, wound a rustic road toward 
the Swenson Camp, from which curved a trail 
through fascinatingly uneven and at times quite 
perilously insecure ways, ending in Kissell Camp, 
with its whispering pines, its alluring, because un- 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


61 


tenanted, piazzas and rustic seats and its views, 
south and east. 

Then there was the walk up the hill, back of 
Edgewood Cabin, into the very heart of the woods 
and down a slope, among great boulders dressed 
in living green, to the Rustic Lodge road, where 
one may keep on, past the horse-shoe and quite 
around the southern end of the lake, or turn with 
a few steps toward the hotel. 

Longer and more fatiguing tramps could be 
made to Axton, to “ Twomblee’s,” at the west end 
of Sweeney Carry — about three miles from the 
Wawbeek ; or to Tupper Lake — a nine-mile tramp 
through the woods on a good road that lacks even 
the excitement of roughness and difficulty. 

The pretty Bostonian and her charming Chicago 
sister-in-law were notable walkers, taking their 
constitutionals regularly for the sake of benefits 
resulting therefrom in health and vigor ; but Faith 
Holland and her friends, the Deans, openly con- 
fessed to a preference for excursions by water that 
took them into constantly changing surroundings, 
gave them opportunities to hear their guides spin 
yarns, and revealed glimpses of woodland life, 
camping and open-air adventure. The first all-day 
trip was to the Lower Saranac, a distance of some 


62 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


fourteen miles by boat and Bartlett’s carry, through 
Round Lake and a winding, lily-framed stream, 
called the Inlet, into the rapids and then into the 
southern end of the lower lake. 

The time chosen, a week after the arrival at the 
Wawbeek, proved to be a typical Adirondack day. 

When Faith peeped from her window at seven 
o’clock, to see what the prospect of going was, she 
could not suppress an exclamation of delight. The 
entire eastern horizon was suffused with rose- 
colored tints, merging into the brilliant blue of a 
clear July morning. 

The mountain slopes seemed bathed in luminous 
glory, their living greens presenting every shade, 
from the delicate birch leaves to the darkest pines. 

The lake accurately reflected the over-lying blue, 
broken only by occasionally passing boats, or fisher- 
men at anchor. The air was fragrant with the 
secret perfumes of early day and resonant with 
bird-songs. 

“Not any wind to make our journey rough, 
mother dear — and a day of days for being any- 
where out of doors. Oh, how sorry I am for the 
stifled creatures in cities. How altogether good 
we ought to be, when everything about us makes 
living such a joy.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


63 


“ Faith, is it time to get up ?" called Emma, 
who always was the first of the Deans to start in 
any undertaking. 

“ Yes, and hurry too, for we ought to leave the 
boat-house by eight o'clock, our guide says. It 
will take four hours to get over to the Ampersand 
and one hour to get dinner. We want to drive 
about and see something of the Lower Saranac 
shores, and we must leave by four o'clock at latest. 
It will be bright moonlight to-night, fortunately, 
so we can take as much time as mother has strength 
for. Are you quite sure, dear, that you ought to 
undertake such a long trip ? " 

“ Quite sure," was the prompt reply from Mrs. 
Holland, as she coiled her golden hair about her 
shapely head. “ Don't insinuate that I am an in- 
valid, Faith, for really I feel equal to almost any- 
thing now. I walked to the Kissell Camp yester- 
day afternoon while you were over at the Club 
House ; Mrs. Dean went with me, and you never 
noticed any signs of fatigue or lack of appetite at 
supper, did you ? We stopped at f Blossom Bun- 
galow ' by invitation, on the way back, and had a 
delicious cup of tea and a half-hour's chat with 
your delightful * Lady B.,' so dressing for the 
evening was hardly an effort." 


64 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


Lunches had been ordered the night before, 
and cushions, wraps, umbrellas, field-glasses and 
guide-books were already stowed away in the 
boats by the time breakfast was disposed of, so 
the getting off was easily accomplished by a few 
minutes past eight, and the party made quite an 
imposing display in their four boats. Mrs. Hol- 
land and Mrs. Dean took the lead with their 
guide. Next came Faith and Jack Dean, for 
both agreed that it would do the latter much 
more good to row than to lose all that greatly 
needed exercise. 

Ned Murray triumphantly settled Daisy Dean in 
his own boat and gallantly remonstrated against 
Emma’s determination to keep her guide and boat 
quite to herself. “ Mamma may wish to change 
places with me before we get back, to get a differ- 
ent point of view, and I am going to have a splen- 
did chance to question my guide, with no one to 
interrupt,” she said. 

The short carry at “Bartlett's” was an agree- 
able change, and everybody elected to walk it. 
The Club House and its surrounding cottages 
were alive with people coming or going from 
breakfast or preparing for a day's sport. At a 
later hour one might think the place uninhabited. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


65 


for nobody stays about the house who can get into 
the woods and on the water. With the universal 
spirit of joyous energy beaming in every face, it 
was quite exciting to meet familiar faces — perhaps 
last seen on Beacon Street or Broadway — and rec- 
ognize a quite unfamiliar carriage, freedom of 
manner and ease of clothing. 

With it all seemed to come a cordiality and gen- 
uine enthusiasm that converted a mere acquaint- 
ance into something quite intimate and valued. 
Round Lake was in its most placid mood, and 
Ampersand Mountain particularly impressive in 
the clear atmosphere. Even the rapids presented 
no disturbing characteristics to the most timid of 
the party, and it was hard to realize that high 
wind and opposing currents could at times tax the 
strongest and most skillful guide to his uttermost. 

The graceful curves and floral beauties of the 
Inlet kept Faith in a state of openly-expressed en- 
thusiasm, to which Jack Dean responded as well 
as his preoccupied thoughts permitted, for when 
Faith exclaimed, “Oh, how exquisite \ ” to some 
view directly back of him, he forgot to remove his 
admiring eyes from her glowing face as he unre- 
servedly assented, and when she took him to task 
for “ not taking the trouble to look around,” he 
5 


66 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


simply kept on beaming into her bright face and 
declared it wasn’t necessary. 

Ned Murray made the most of his opportunity, 
too, and only the experienced would ever believe 
how much can be accomplished even in the 
brightest of daylight, in an open boat, and under 
the constant inspection of a brace of mothers, the 
close propinquity of a brother and sister, to say 
nothing of an alert intimate friend. 

In the eyes of Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Dean 
there seemed nothing wanting to perfect the en- 
joyment of every moment. They had neither of 
them awakened to any serious estimate of the 
romances that were daily developing. If, occa- 
sionally, some suggestion presented itself to either 
of them, it was so fleeting and trivial that no 
weight was given it, and the sense of delicacy 
that all refined womankind £eel and cherish con- 
cerning possible but undeclared sentiment, pre- 
cluded any interchange of opinions upon the sub- 
ject. 

If all concerned had not been upon so equal and 
safe a social level there might have been more 
caution evidenced by the seniors ; but everything 
seemed to conspire to blind their comprehension, 
and so they glided on through the halcyon days 





* 


















4 









“As they now were borne to the picturesque shores of the Ampersand. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


67 


and still more resistless evenings — as they now 
were borne to the picturesque shores of the Amper- 
sand at the head of the Lower Saranac, filled with 
gladness and content. 

As the boats were pulled up onto the boat-house 
landing Emma hastened to join her mother and 
the group about her, as she managed between bursts 
of laughter to repeat to them some of her guide's 
quaint expressions. 

“ I never laughed so much in my life — he was 
too funny for anything. On politics he is some- 
thing unique. He says he is going to Albany some 
day ‘to give them everlastin' fools some pints. 
Why, they don't know no more 'bout the woods and 
what’s going on up here than a cow does 'bout 
shootin'.' As we came up to this landing he broke 
out — e Anybody 'd think the folks here did nothing 
but hunt and fish and sech, ter see all the truck 
'round,' pointing to the boats and fishing tackle 
and deer heads on the boat-house. e Law ! there 
ain’t any more sports. There ain't anything but 
a mess o’ setters .’ " 

“What did he mean by that ?" cried Faith, be- 
tween laughs. 

“ I suppose he means that the people here are 
too citified to suit him, and sit around on the 


68 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


piazzas and in the boats rather than rough it as 
they used to do, but he is the greatest fun to 
listen to. Now we must get up to the hotel and 
make ourselves respectable for dinner. In spite 
of having eaten heartily at eleven, I am ready for 
the Ampersand bill of fare ; how do you all feel ? ” 

There seemed no disposition to evade Emma’s 
suggestion, and in the meantime the men engaged 
carriages for an inspection of the country, order- 
ing the guides to bring the boats around to the 
Algonquin landing, from whence they would start 
on the homeward journey. 

“ Isn’t it odd how short a time it takes to settle 
into new conditions ? ” said Mrs. Dean, as they rest- 
ed for a few moments after a sumptuous dinner on 
the Ampersand piazza. “We have been at the 
Wawbeek but a week, and yet the open country, 
good roads and carriages strike one as unfamiliar 
and almost novel.” 

“It must be because the companionship of 
primeval forests and untouched nature, the silence 
of woods and waters, yield so much strength and 
poise to tired brains and bodies that time ceases 
to be of any relative consideration,” said Mrs. 
Holland. 

“ There are some people that seem to have the 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


69 


game power of annihilating preliminary processes 
usually supposed to cover months and years. They 
take possession at once, and so absorb whatever 
they choose to become interested in, that no ques- 
tion is raised of conventionalities or methods,” 
said Jack Bean. 

Everybody turned as he spoke. 

He looked like one thinking aloud, rather than 
advancing an idea for general consideration. Ned 
Murray glanced at Faith, to discover how she was 
affected by it, hut she was busy arranging her 
mother’s veil and gave no sign. They all strolled 
through the pine growth at the north of the hotel 
and enjoyed the display of tent homes, the groups 
of pretty children, and the evidences of comfort 
and luxurious pretense at “camping out” all 
through the cool hillside. 

“ If I were a man •” said Daisy Dean, incon- 

tinently. 

“ Gracious ! don’t suggest such a thing,” whis- 
pered Ned. 

“ If I were a man,” persisted the calm voice, 
“ I fancy I should want to come over here often 
to the games and races ; they always have exciting 
times at the ball and tennis games, and the boat 
races are splendid.” 


70 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ It is not absolutely necessary to be a man in 
order to attend any or all of the ‘ times ' here,” 
remarked Jack, as he deftly swung a small boy 
out of Mrs. Holland's way. “ We can see all the 
fun whenever we like without much trouble ; just 
go down to the Inn and take the train or drive 
over. Come, good people, we must hurry if we 
are to get to the village and back by four o'clock.” 

The roads proved all that could be asked, the 
carriages — two of them — comfortable, the horses 
fresh and the drivers easier to keep talking than to 
stop. 

They dashed over the road past the Ampersand 
gardens, and pleasant winter and summer homes, 
past the railway station, on to Saranac Village — 
out to the Sanitarium and back again across hills 
and vales to the Algonquin, where the carriages 
were dismissed and a half-hour was still left for 
enjoying the noble view before them of the islands, 
shores and waters of the Lower Saranac. 

There were some familiar Boston and Cambridge 
names in the hotel register, and the Deans and 
Hollands were soon surrounded by friends, while 
Jack and Ned hobnobbed with some Harvard boys 
who had just come in with splendid catches. 

They all waxed enthusiastic about their popular 


The Lower Saranac from the Algonquin 







AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


71 


host, and expressed strong affection for the place, 
the life, the climate and everything else. 

“ It makes one think of everybody’s devotion to 
their own church, physician or byke," laughed 
Faith. “ We are delighted with Wawbeek, al- 
though we enjoy making excursions in all direc- 
tions, and fully appreciate the variety of attractions 
we find. You swear by this charming place, and 
the people at the Ampersand think that is the one 
spot on earth to summer in. Isn't it all delight- 
ful ? " 

That evening when they gathered around their 
table in the dining-room of the Wawbeek — tired, 
but not exhausted ; enthusiastic, burned as to 
complexions, but healthfully hungry and at peace 
with all the world, Mrs. Holland said : “ How that 
we begin to know something about this wonderful 
region, and to feel the renewing influences of these 
undefiled solitudes, in which a handful of people 
seem but an additional echo or two — how flat, stale 
and unprofitable it makes crowded noisy highways 
and resorts seem." 






























































































































IX. 


rj^HE young man or woman whose best char- 
acteristics are not developed by close and 
happy intimacies amidst unspoiled forests and 
streams, must be abnormally warped and demoral- 
ized. 

Happily no such elements formed any part of 
the Holland Dean circle. 

Faith's heart, as well as her mind, reflected only 
the hopeful, healthful out-reachings of an ardent, 
enthusiastic and progressive nature. 

She took people at their seeming value until good 
reason for higher or lower estimates arose. 

In the hotel life she was immensely popular, be- 
cause her genuine good-will evidenced itself in a 
thousand ways and made her a real pleasure to the 
children, with whom she was a prime favorite ; 
the young men and women, who always considered 
her a specially desirable acquisition to the draw- 
ing-room evenings, where music, games and danc- 
ing gave them an opportunity to meet ; and partic- 
ularly to the elder men and women always grouped 

” 73 


74 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


about the piazzas and parlors, who watched for her 
return from various excursions, quite sure that 
she would share her curiosities with and relate 
her experiences to them. 

The “ Lady B.,” of her first evening’s discovery, 
had made “Blossom Bungalow” a delighful feat- 
ure of the summering. 

When the sun shone too ardently for vigorous 
tramps or long explorations, it was safe to look for 
Faith’s mother and Mrs. Dean on the Bungalow 
piazzas, the young people coming and going, be- 
tween lawn-tennis bouts, strolls into the adjacent 
woods or chance engagements elsewhere. 

The hostess set the example of industry — her 
embroidery seeming almost a part of herself — 
while some one read aloud or animated conversa- 
tion sped the hours. 

One evening, when the entire party had been 
playing cards, something was said about Paul 
Smith’s. 

“How do you get there ?” asked Daisy Dean — 
perhaps as much to break the spell of Ned’s intent 
gaze as for information. 

Jack seemed to know all about it. “The 
proper way to go is by boats, but it is a longer 
pull than any you ladies have undertaken, and 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


75 


there are several carrys to walk or drive over. 
The girls could do it well enough, but mother 
would not care for so much exertion. Of course 
I don't dare insinuate any lack of strength in Mrs. 
Holland's direction, but even her energy might 
find sufficient vent in the stage drive from Saranac 
Inn.'' 

“ I think staging would be a pleasant variety," 
said Mrs. Dean. “ Are the roads good ? " 

te More than good for the Adirondacks, but you 
know it is very dusty. We have had no rain 
to speak of for a month, and watering-carts are 
not yet in general use in the woods," warned 
Jack. 

“ Who cares for dust ? We shall be too far 
above it, too, to be much annoyed," said Emma, 
who dearly loved moving about. 

After due discussion the men excused them- 
selves to make arrangements for the next day, as 
Ned Murray's stay was nearly at an end, and it 
seemed best to make sure of good weather while 
it lasted. 

The rest of the group went out on to the piazza 
and sat in the moonlight for a while, before say- 
ing good-night. It was eleven o'clock and the 
hotel lights were fast disappearing. Long days 


76 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


out of doors make sleep welcome at early hours, 
and insomnia finds small foothold among energetic 
fishermen and huntsmen. 

“ We have been here a whole month,” said Faith, 
as she admiringly contemplated her beloved “ Lady 
B.,” for once lounging in her chair, with her hands 
at rest, the moonlight adding a peculiar charm to 
her exquisite silvery hair, her patrician pose of 
head and the general air of gracious strength which 
characterized her. 

“How I love this place! Yesterday we went 
up to Fish Creek pond and through some of the 
others, beyond. How anybody can complain of 
there not being places to go to anywhere on these 
lakes I do not see. We shall not have time to ex- 
plore half as much as I would like to. 

“ It makes me tired to hear some of the cranks 
at the hotel talk about ‘ its being too dreadfully 
quiet/ Of course it's quiet — if one insists upon 
staying in a chair on the piazza all day, when 
everybody is enjoying themselves in the woods 
and on the lake. Such people should stay within 
reach of a brass hand and fire-works. They canT 
appreciate anything else ! 

“ I wish you all could have seen mother when 
we got to the lily pads. She nearly fell overboard 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


77 


trying to get the blossoms, and went into perfect 
ecstasies over the leaves. They made the most 
exquisitely tinted floating carpet — through which 
we had to push our way. 

“ We saw some huge roots above water that the 
guide said the bears come out for when they are 
hungry, and as we were rowing back, very quietly, 
I distinctly saw the bushes and low branches of 
trees on the shore moved, as by something passing 
through them. We would hear steps, too, and 
everybody held their breath lest the something be 
frightened away before we could see it, but the 
steps turned inland and soon were lost to our 
hearing.” 

“ That was a deer coming down to drink, for 
sure,” said Flagg. “ He found us out sooner than 
we did him, and it ain't no use hanging hound 
here any longer. He’s a mile away by this time.” 

“ Yes,” said Mrs. Holland, “ it was quite ex- 
citing even to hear a deer step. I hope we shall 
see one before we go out.” 

“Wait until September and you probably will,” 
said Lady B. “ Only a little above us, in front 
of one of the camps, a fine buck took to the lake 
from the point just below their boat-house and 
created a great excitement. The family — at least 


78 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


the female part of it — were aroused by the cry, 
‘ A deer ! 9 ‘ A deer ! 9 and every one of them rushed 
from the lunch-table out on to the landing, wav- 
ing whatever they could lay hands on, wildly gest- 
iculating and shouting at the top of their voices, in 
their endeavor to head him toward the shore where 
their guide could get a shot at him. But their 
efforts were vain, for the guide could not be found 
until the deer had landed on a higher point and 
made off into the woods. The trying part of it 
they discovered later. The deer was started by 
their own guide and dog, and after doubling on 
the party, was bagged by some hunters over by 
Tupper Lake.” 

“ It seems a most stupid order of sport to me — 
this setting dogs on a trail and then quietly await- 
ing and profiting by the combined efforts of two 
antagonistic beasts. I think if I were a man I 
should care little for any glory so easily won,” said 
Daisy. 

“ City sportsmen seldom consider ways of getting 
possession of game. I have been told on good au- 
thority of men coming into the woods with expe- 
rienced guides, who brought out the fruits of a 
combined effort on the part of the latter as their 
own, swearing that they aimed the fatal shot, but 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


T9 


not explaining that the guides first wounded the 
deer and then held it while the excited amateur 
blazed away until successful. Yes, it is a strange 
passion that possesses men and also some women. 
The people in the hotels complain often of the dis- 
turbances occasioned by hunting parties starting 
out at two and three o’clock in the morning. You 
can always be sure there are women in these par- 
ties, and they will endure the chill of our Septem- 
ber nights, fatigue, and great discomfort, on the 
mere chance of seeing some one of their party bring 
down a deer. There are, however, some modern 
Dianas on this very lake. Our neighbors, over at 
Pine Point, both mother and daughters, are keen 
and skillful sportswomen, and it is understood that 
the largest lake trout ever landed in this vicinity 
was the victim of the accomplished Philadelphian’s 
piscatorial art.” 

“ My dears, do you forget that we start to-mor- 
row by eight o’clock ? ” suggestively asked Mrs. 
Dean — whereupon everybody said good-night, and 
Blossom Bungalow and Hillside Cottage soon closed 
their doors upon their respective occupants, dreams 
of enticing and varied sort descending gently upon 
the sleepers. 

The pines sang tender serenades all night to the 


80 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


obligato of the lapping lake, and but one wakeful 
heart resisted their soothing influences. 

There is a sweet unrest that will not be appeased 
by nature’s loveliest tributes of fragrance and 
beauty ; — in her dainty chamber there lay a maiden, 
through long hours of that summer night, star- 
gazing and soul-questioning. 


NAPHTHA launch may not be a strictly 



•*“ artistic element in an Adirondack scene, but 
this is an age of haste, and poetry must yield to 
economy of time and strength. 

The following morning proved as bright as could 
be desired, and the Wawbeek launch whistled “ time 
up ” just as our friends appeared upon the wharf, 
the party being augmented by an extra man, dis- 
covered the previous night by Jack Dean, and in- 
troduced to the ladies as “ my classmate, Mr. Theo- 
dore Stanley.” 

“ I’m very much afraid you are not at all pre- 
pared for the dust,” said the new-comer, as he took 
the seat next Emma Dean. 

“ We’ve not had a drop of rain for weeks about 
New York, and when I landed at Saranac Station 
last night I was the worst looking tramp you can 
imagine from the journey’s grime and dust. You 
see this lake absorbs your attention so entirely 
up here, that the lack of water elsewhere does not 
matter so much.” 


6 


81 


82 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Yon know we are country people now, Mr. 
Stanley ,” gaily answered Emma, with a suggestive 
glance at her new acquaintance’s conspicuously 
spotless sporting costume, “ and rather enjoy look- 
ing disreputable. I assure you, it is quite the 
thing to look shabby up here, through the day. 
You can he as fine as you please at dinner, hut if 
I were you I would jump overboard once or twice, 
just to give yourself an Adirondack finish.” 

“ For Heaven’s sake, Emma, don’t say such rash 
things to Stanley. The first thing you know he 
will be taking your advice literally, and then we 
should he in a pretty muddle,” said Jack, as he 
glanced uneasily at his friend, remembering college 
days, when “Ted” Stanley ranked every man in 
the University for skill in, on, or under the 
Charles River, and never hesitated at any daring 
experiment. 

Stanley shrugged his broad shoulders as he quietly 
assured the party that he was at their disposal, and 
apologized for “ the vulgarly and offensively fresh 
condition ” of his clothes. “ The only explanation 
I can offer,” he added, “ is having been so tied to 
business that this is really the first glimpse I have 
ever had of anything so delightfully free and re- 
freshing as Adirondack life promises to be.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


83 


Everybody liked him from that moment, and 
Emma Dean confessed to her sister afterward that 
she was ashamed of herself for so misjudging him. 

“ Fine feathers may disguise fine birds some- 
times ! — It is stupid to judge by feathers, good or 
bad, isn’t it ? ” remarked her mother, as she let her 
impulsive daughter re-arrange her wrap. 

They all enjoyed passing the pretty islands with 
their various camps evidencing the early morning 
bustle of preparation for another day’s enjoyment. 

Across at Birch Island the buildings looked cool 
in the shadow of their wood background, and an 
air of spaciousness and comfort distinguished the 
entire camp. “ It is the summer home of one of 
the youngest and first scientists of the country, 
whose ideas of rest are synonymous with enthusi- 
astic and serious work in his camp laboratory, as 
much as with the outdoor pleasure surrounding 
him,” announced Jack. 

Further along, toward the north, are the build- 
ings, tents, bridges and winding- walks of the Strac- 
kosch Camp, from the highest point of which the 
American flag vigorously furled and unfurled its 
patriotic emblems. 

“ This composite of islands and mainland is an 
example of what can be done in a rustic way with- 


84 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


out sacrificing comfort or the rural charm of the 
place/’ said Mrs. Holland. “ I enjoyed my call 
there the other day immensely. The hostess is a 
woman of remarkable intelligence, and entertained 
so delightfully that two hours passed before I 
thought of leaving. The husband is a genuine 
lover of f the open ’ and a perfect guide-book for 
all this region. Speaking of guide-books — I was 
looking through Stoddard’s * The Adirondacks Il- 
lustrated/ and saw that you can get another book 
of his, * The Adirondack Wilderness/ by sending 
to Glens Falls, N. Y. I wish you would remem- 
ber to write for it. Faith. I would like to have it 
here while we are in the midst of this life. 

“ Yes, dear. What are we coming to ?• It looks 
like a village. I can count one, two, three, four, 
five, six, seven buildings and a summer-house, and 
deer-pad and lawn-tennis ground and launch-house. 
Why, it’s a landing large enough for a regular 
town.” 

“ Pine Point. There is the name on the flag, 
and this must be the wonderful camp where a man 
I know visits every season,” said Stanley. “He 
is most enthusiastic about the place, the family, 
the hospitality, and the whole experience.” 

“ It is one of the finest camps in the woods,” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


85 


said Jack. “ If we had not been so busy among 
ourselves over the other side, we might have 
known personally more about it, for the hostess 
and my mother were old acquaintances at school. 
Only yesterday we found ourselves unfortunate 
enough to have missed calls from a member of the 
household.” 

The Pine Point house parties seldom number 
less than fifteen or twenty guests, and they enjoy 
themselves in all kinds of delightful ways.” 

Forty-five minutes from the start the launch 
brought them safely to the Inn landing, and in 
another half hour ff Eli,” the famous whip, was 
whirling them off through the woods, well settled 
for an eighteen mile tally-liodrive across country 
to the famous great hostlery of Paul Smith's. 

Faith begged to sit on the front seat with Eli — 
secretly planning to get the reins into her own 
hands occasionally. The mother agreed, if Jack 
took the outside seat next her and would be re- 
sponsible for her safety, which office he promptly, 
not to say joyfully, accepted. 

The two chaperons were installed behind them, 
as the most comfortable places on the coach, leav- 
ing the other seats respectively to the Dean girls 
and their escorts. Ned Murray unselfishly elected 


86 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


the back one for Daisy and himself “ because we 
are more used to it." 

“ To what ? " demanded Emma, with well as- 
sumed innocence — “ back seats ?" 

Stanley glanced at her keenly and his eyes spar- 
kled, but he contented himself with saying (for 
her ear alone) “ unkind." 

The journey was full of interest. 

To be sure the horses travelled in dense clouds 
of dust and the earth was parched and dry, but 
the air was sweet and pure ; the wind took the 
dust away from them and there was great variety 
in the scenery. 

There did not seem to be much general conver- 
sation. Every one but Stanley felt too entirely at 
home with the rest to make small talk necessary. 
All ceremony between the Deans and the Hollands 
had, by tacit consent, been dropped, even to the 
gracious permission on the part of Faith that Jack 
might dispense with her title in their daily inter- 
course. At this time there seemed to be a niche 
for everyone, Stanley submitting with evident 
relish to a running fire of joking in Emma’s most 
mischievous mood. 

“ Who is Mr. Stanley ? " asked Mrs. Holland of 
Mrs. Dean. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


87 


“ I don’t exactly know, unless he is one of the 
Virginia Stanleys. There were several of them 
in Harvard. He must he thoroughly desirable or 
Jack never would have introduced him. I like his 
looks. Don’t you ? ” 

“ Yes, very much. I knew a Mrs. Stanley once. 
She was at a summer hotel where my husband and 
I were, and we were together a good deal. She 
was a Virginian. Do you see resemblances read- 
ily ? I am curiously sensitive to them. Some- 
where I have seen a face very like his ; and, do 
you know, once in a while I find myself wondering 
if I have not seen Jack before. There are times 
when I feel as if I had known and now recognize 
his gestures and tricks of manner. He does not 
look very much like you, do you think ? ” 

Mrs. Dean shook her head. “ Not a bit.” 
She seemed little disposed to talk for a moment, 
letting her thoughts follow her eyes as they rested 
upon her son’s brown hair and handsome pro- 
file. 

“ He is a dear fellow. I do not know how we 
could get along without him this summer,” said 
Mrs. Holland — hoping, she hardly knew why, to 
draw out something more from his mother, who 
seldom talked about herself or her children. 


88 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


Mrs. Dean smiled. “ Fm so glad we can have 
him. It is the first whole summer we have been 
together since he began school.” And there the 
conversation fell into other channels and the party 
grew more generally alive to the situation. 

Up and down and around the hills the horses 
carried the great coach. Sometimes they passed 
through dusky woods and had to dodge the lower 
branches of the trees. Again they ambled along 
good country roads and by comfortable summer 
homes, until another long ascent, or more exciting 
descent, brought glimpses of distant mountains 
and intervening valleys, and Eli had to answer a 
torrent of questions. 

“Here is the Adirondack and St. Lawrence 
Bailroad,” said Jack, as they came in sight of the 
station, clattered over the track, and swung into 
the fine road leading to the great and famous hos- 
telry. In another half-hour they had made a 
quite imposing round-up at the hotel entrance, 
and taken possession of the waiting table reserved 
for them in the dining-room, with a satisfaction 
known only to hungry travellers whose appetites 
stand no chance of inflicting any other penalty 
than an increased delight in appeasing them. 

After satisfactorily attending to that agreeable 


Paul Smith’s. — “A famous name, a famous house. 







AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


89 


duty, they wandered about the beautiful grounds, 
went out on the lake and got an idea of the camps 
near by, and listened to stories of the early days 
when the elder Smith made the first clearing and 
built the original house. 

“ What do you think of it all, Faith ?” asked 
Jack as they walked back to the hotel. 

“ It is another surprise. Not a bit like what I 
expected. Much larger, much more modern, and 
these grounds are as cultivated as Cambridge 
parks. Just the place for October, when the 
smaller hotels are closed. It is sheltered from the 
wind by all these trees, and there is room enough 
for indoor sport.” 

“ My, dear child ! — When do you consider home 
desirable ? ” asked Mrs. Holland, who began to 
fear that Faith's wandering propensities were be- 
coming abnormal. 

“Always, to possess and to be able to go to 
when you like, mother, but homes, like relatives, 
become burdens, ‘when they are imposed upon 
one at undesirable times.'” 

“ What original ideas of some things you 
have!” remarked Stanley. “Do you often feel 
like being relieved of your nearest relative, Miss 
Holland ?” 


90 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


My mother ! " Faith cried with a look that 
made everybody laugh, it was so tragic. 

“ Don't mind Ted. He is an incurable tease," 
said Jack. “ And, by the way, if we are to get 
home to-night it is quite time we started. It's 
after four o'clock now." 

Rolling over good highways by daylight is one 
thing, but the combination of dust, dusk and 
stretches of dimly defined woodland roads, where 
the bordering line of thick foliage may not be a 
foot away from a precipitous decline, on either, 
and sometimes on both sides, is quite another thing. 

The first two hours were full of jollity and good 
cheer. Everybody expatiated upon the features of 
the country spread before and around them, in- 
terchanged amusing personalities, badinage and 
jokes, but as the woods shut out the sunlight and 
the twilight came on, the party enthusiasm changed 
to a quieter and less general tone. Faith, being 
nearer the whip than any one else, first discovered 
his difficulty in seeing the way, because of the 
dense dust which the wind now carried with them, 
at times completely hidingdhe wheelers from slight. 

Stanley suggested that they all spend a week 
there before the season closed. 

“X must confess to something approaching a 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


91 


craze upon the golf question, and the St. Regis 
Golf Club is far and away, to my mind, the greatest 
attraction here. The Links are fine, and the club 
boasts twenty as good Americans as live,” he said. 

“ You can tear about in the sun all you like, my 
boy, if I may have my canoe,” cried Jack. “The 
regattas are immense on the lake, and the boat- 
races too.” 

“ I think we have seen at least a dozen cottages 
near the hotel,” said Mrs. Dean, “and Jack tells 
me that around Spitfire Lake and Upper Saint 
Regis there must be sixty or more camps that are 
worth going a good way to see.” 

“ Many of them are works of art and really pala- 
tial,” said Jack. “ I was up here last year, for a 
week:, with a lot of fellows, and we had a bang-up 
time, I tell you. Oh, you know there is no place 
in the United States where you can see more 
famous people, within twenty-four hours, than 
at Paul Smith's. It was the first hotel in the 
WO ods — at least that I ever heard of — and people 
who come here year after year swear by it and by 
each other ; but anybody can enjoy themselves 
without half trying, if they love the woods and 
waters.” 

“I guess we'll have some more light,” said 


92 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Eli/' stopping the Tally-ho on a convenient level. 
“We had oughter started earlier. It’ll be real 
dark before we get to the Inn, and ” (in a voice 
audible only to Faith and: Jack) “there’s some 
places in the woods where the road is steep and 
narrer enough to keep me wide awake any time of 
day,” — and then he said no more, but left every- 
body to draw their own conclusions as the lamp- 
lights suddenly turned the dust clouds into the 
nearest reproduction of a London fog that any of 
them were likely to see in this country. 

Ned Murray and Daisy had confined their at- 
tentions exclusively to such subjects as concerned 
themselves alone, and for some time had made no 
audible remarks. 

Mr. Stanley and Emma kept up an animated 
discussion upon the relative merits of sea-coast 
and mountain pleasures, into which the chaperons 
entered with equal interest. Mrs. Holland in par- 
ticular asked many questions about Stanley’s ex- 
periences and opinions, in such an unusually per- 
sistent way that Faith, overhearing her, wondered 
at her sudden interest in the new acquaintance. 

“ Move over to the left, quick,” rang out Eli’s 
strong voice, as the coach slipped a little ominously 
to the right. 







*3WiisR»ws ■ 














■ ;;;• ■■ ' " • " — ’ l 






































■ 

































AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 9 £ 

“ All right. I couldn’t see the road, for a min- 
ute — go-’long there, Susan — What-cher-’bout ?” 

No one but Faith and Jack realized how near 
they had been to a perilous edge, and they only 
whispered to each other their admiration of Eli’s 
caution and diplomacy. 

“ He knows every inch of the road or I should 
he getting down and looking ahead for myself. 
These horses would stop at his word, if they were 
in front of an engine — but I tell you this is the 
greatest test of his skill that could he made. 
This dust is like a wall. I shall not be sorry to 
see the Inn — except — — well, Jack Dean’s excep- 
tions seemed of great interest to Faith Holland, 
but were not intended for other ears. 

At nine o’clock, the faithful Eli drew his tired 
horses up before the side entrance of Saranac Inn, 
and scored for himself a notable and honorable 
triumph over adverse circumstances — though be 
it said to his honor most of the party never would 
have known the dangers they had escaped if Faith 
had not told of them. 

At ten o’clock they were safely gathered around 
a late supper at the Wawbeek, the lake trip having 
acted curiously unlike upon appetites, for while 
the elders boasted of famous capacity for all the 


94 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


good things prepared, and proved themselves all 
they represented, the younger folks seemed more 
anxious to get through and over to the cottage. 

Ned Murray brought all the letters to them there, 
and every one was soon deep in their contents. 

When Emma looked up from her collection pf 
missives and glanced around the group, she was 
startled at Murray’s face and attitude. 

He was standing near the centre of the room 
with an open letter held before him with both 
hands, his eyes however being set upon Daisy and 
his whole expression denoting a great mental ex- 
citement. 

Emma restrained the question that rose to her 
lips, but forgot everything but her interest in 
Murray’s remarkable attitude until Jack broke the 
silence by some remark about a matter that con- 
cerned the former and necessitated an answer. 

Instead of replying, Murray crushed the letter 
between his strong hands and beckoning to Jack 
to follow him, left the room, without a word. 


XI. 


HAT is the matter, Daisy ? ” asked Emma, 



as the latter sank upon the nearest chair 


and buried her face in her hands. 

It was not yet seven o’clock, the morning after 
the Paul Smith excursion, and both girls had been 
awakened by a tap on their door, persistent but 
low. Daisy upon answering it had found Jack 
waiting to give her a note. 

“ Don’t make any noise. It is too early to 
waken the household — I will wait for your answer 
and take it to him.” 

The note was from Ned Murray. 

“ I am called home. Must leave on the early 
boat. Will you not come down to the hotel par- 
lor for a half-hour ? Jack says he will bring you, 
if you will come. 


“ Chris.” 


Daisy Dean made no answer to her sister’s 
inquiry until another tap at the door reminded 
her that she could not ignore Jack. 


95 


96 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


She pushed back her hair, looked at the little 
French clock on the dressing-table, glanced out 
of the window an instant as if to picture the wait- 
ing day’s scenes, and then swiftly stepped to the 
door. 

“ I’ll be dressed in ten minutes. Tell him. Jack 
dear, that I will go down to the rustic bench on 
the shore below Blossom Bungalow.” 

She spoke confidingly, as if no fear as to her 
brother’s lack of co-operation entered her mind, 
and evidently there was no ground for any ; Jack’s 
comfortable “ all right ” gave her the tonic she 
needed, and when Emma, somewhat impatiently, 
repeated her question she said, quite calmly : 

“ Ned is called home and has to take the first 
boat. I am going to say good-bye to him. Will 
you come too ? ” 

If she had not been so entirely occupied in the 
hasty arrangement of her pretty hair she would 
have seen Emma’s gesture of dramatic negation, 
but she only heard and recognized the suggestive- 
ness of her voice and words. 

“ Excuse me. Just fancy Ned’s disappointment ! 
— but tell him I was really too sleepy to speak to 
anyone, and say bon voyage for me. He’ll probably 
get back before I’m fairly awake ; ” wherewith 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


97 


Miss Emma carefully arranged her pillows and in 
another moment, to all appearances, was in dream- 
land. 

****** 

The Adirondack mornings in August — what 
compares with them. A rose-tinted haze half 
veiled and half revealed Whiteface and the inter- 
mediate mountains on the eastern horizon. The 
lake gleamed in the foreground like burnished 
silver outlining the opposite shores and islands 
with curves and lines unapproachable in art. The 
blue of the zenith found its perfect match in the 
Saranac waters, and here and there guide boats 
spun long threads of silver from point to point or 
an early fisherman silhouetted himself against the 
watery radiance, in silent watchfulness. The 
fragrance of sun and dew-steeped forests deluged 
the air with an intoxication for both soul and body, 
and Daisy Dean in her dainty rose-colored lawn 
and drooping mull hat with roses nestling under 
the fluffy edges, against her hair, seemed the in- 
carnation of the hour, as she passed down the 
slope, turned by Blossom Bungalow and disap- 
peared among the trees below. 

Ned Murray saw her coming from his watch- 
ground, the rustic seat, where they had spent 
7 


98 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


many happy hours during the summer, and in a 
moment was by her side. 

Neither of them spoke, but stood with close- 
clasped hands, looking into each other’s faces, 
flushing and paling with the contending emotion 
of a love that had not yet clearly defined its 
relations. 

“ How dear of you to come, Daisy. I was so 
afraid you could not, or — ivoidd not manage it. 
You are .such a timid creature at times and again 
— so fearless ! ” 

“ But why are you going so suddenly, Ned ? 
Why could you not have told me all day yester- 
day ? " asked Daisy, gently withdrawing her hands 
and making a movement toward the bench. 

“1 did not know until I read my letter last 
night, and then — there were complications to be 
considered and matters to arrange.” Here Ned 
Murray suddenly straightened himself and with- 
drew a little from the young girl’s side. “ Daisy, 
I am going on what may be a long and painful 
errand. It concerns others than myself and pos- 
sibly may involve them and me in scandal and 
grievous trouble ; ” here he looked at her with un- 
flinching dignity, seeming to gain height and seri- 
ousness with every word. “I am in honor bound 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


99 


to tell you this much now, and to leave to you the 
decision of our present and our future plans. You 
know I love you with all my heart and soul. I 
believe that you love me, dear, but I will have no 
half-way contract, no conditional vows. This new 
phase of things makes it all the more necessary 
that we should thoroughly understand each other. 
Daisy, do you love me enough to marry me within 
a month and go to a distant land with me — sharing 
whatever may be my lot ? ” 

He was now by her side. A great love vibrated 
through his voice, his glance, his insistent compel- 
ling clasp of her hand. 

She trembled, dropped her eyes and seemed over- 
come with emotion. 

“ I wish — oh, how I do wish I felt free to answer 
you as I know you expect me to, Yed,” she half- 
whispered. 

“ And why should you not ? ” he demanded with 
sudden passion. “ You are of age ; we have known 
each other for years — why, what is the matter, 
Daisy?” 

“ That is all the matter,” she cried, withdrawing 
from his caress and throwing herself back against 
the trunk of the tree behind her. “ I can never 
forget that school-girl beginning, and some time — 


100 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


if I should, marry you — I feel sure it will come 
between us. I was so bold and forward." 

Murray gave a great sigh of relief, sat down be- 
side her, and drawing her to him, said : “ Daisy, my 
flower, is that all that stands between us ? Are 
you still worrying about that hit of fun. Oh, my 
little girl, don’t waste precious time and sweet 
opportunity for such a trifle. If you can honestly 
say you love me now and will marry me whenever 
it becomes best — even though it be next week — I 
will go away this morning the happiest, proudest 
man on earth, even though I go to suffering. 
Daisy, will you promise ? Will you trust me ? ’’ 

“ Hello, there, Murray, you must come along — 
time’s up,’’ shouted faithful Jack from the great 
rock beyond and above the grove. 

In another half-hour Ned Murray was waving 
his farewells to the familiar group on the landing, 
and mentally exulting over the splendid self-com- 
mand of his betrothed, whose appearance indicated 
nothing more to the general intelligence than 
natural well-bred regret at parting from a pleasant 
companion, but whose lovely eyes told him quite 
another story. 


XII. 


TAAITH HOLLAND was making discoveries 
every day of her life, and they were by no means 
confined to Adirondack lakes and mountains. 

Never having been schooled in either the neces- 
sity or the practice of deception, she now often 
found herself puzzled at her own words and acts, 
and at this stage of things was beginning to in- 
wardly vituperate herself as a person of no decision 
of character, if not, indeed, of no fine sense of 
truthfulness. 

On the very morning of Ned Murray's departure, 
after watching the launch out of sight with the 
rest, she deliberately turned her back upon the 
enticing loveliness of nature, a deaf ear to Jack's 
invitation to go fishing, and an equally pro- 
nounced blindness to the look of surprised regret 
upon his face, and shut herself up in her room 
ostensibly to write letters for the entire morning. 

When the doors were securely locked and she 

felt sure of a little time for self-communion, she 

101 


102 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


opened her desk, made ready her writing materials, 
and then, resting her elbows upon the surface in 
front of her, and clasping her hands under her 
chin, began in her old fashion to converse with 
herself. 

“ Well, Miss- kindly explain yourself. Are 

you or are you not a heartless, selfish, deceitful 
creature ? What has come over you lately ? Why 
do you say one thing when you mean quite an- 
other ? Why do you take such fiendish pleasure 
in disappointing — people ? " Here a bright flush 
spread over cheek and forehead, and seeing it 
Faith smiled scornfully at the reflected picture. 
“ I don't wonder you blush ! cruel, mean thing. 
And as if it were not enough to hurt the feelings 
of — people— you must neglect your precious little 
mother while you gad all over this place with — 
people. And — yes ! ” (pointing her finger at the 
now quite dramatic face) “ you even interfere 
with the plans of the girls — just because you sud- 
denly make up your mind to pester — people. How 
that handsome Stanley read you, yesterday. You 
can’t cheat him with your little tricks. And you 
could not cheat — people — if — they were not so 

good, and gentle, and devoted ” and the 

head sank upon the desk, little broken sobs vibrat- 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 103 

mg through the silence of the room, while outside 
voices on the croquet and lawn- tennis ground, and 
an occasional ringing laugh or call from people 
on the lake, seemed to make no impression upon 
the usually gladsome Faith. In thoughts deep 
and absorbing the hours passed. Not a line of 
writing appeared upon the dainty stationery. At 
times a restlessness seemed to impel her, and a 
quick, impetuous walk up and down the room 
would be followed by a return to the first position 
at the desk and another monologue. When a step 
she recognized as her mother’s approached the 
cottage, and a knock at her door soon followed, 
she thought to herself — “ Now for more deceit,” 
and snatching up a pen began to scratch away 
furiously. 

“ Is it you, dearest ? ” — the voice would have 
misled the elect. “Give me another half-hour 
and I will let you in, but if you come now these 
letters never will get written ; (that’s true, any 
way ! )” 

“ Hurry them, for we are all going to Raquette 
River right after dinner, and down to Tromblee’s. 
Jack wishes you to go in his boat, and the guides 
will row the rest of us, unless Mr. Stanley suc- 
ceeds in getting a boat and rowing Emma.” 


104 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“Very well. I will be ready in just thirty 
minutes, mother dear.” 

And then that young woman proceeded to stuff 
an envelope with newspaper cuttings, menus, pro- 
grams and small photographs until it looked like 
a young book ready for the printer. In two min- 
utes more she had written as many lines on her 
smallest note-paper, signed it “Your loving cousin 
Faith,” and duly directed it to a distant relative 
with whom her mother insisted upon her corre- 
sponding, but who, fortunately, enjoyed one form 
of remembrance as much as another, not being in 
the least sentimental. 

“ There ! for once, my ancient kinswoman, you 
prove yourself useful. Now I can have the rest 
of the time to think.” 

****** 

Off they rowed in a jolly, chatty company, by the 
same shores, now grown familiar — by the pretty 
Island Chapel, where Sunday after Sunday they 
had gone, with campers and hotel guests — south- 
ward, to the Indian Carry, where Ned Murray had 
met them on that morning weeks before. 

No Ned greeted them this time, and perhaps 
no one but Daisy Dean remembered. 

They took the wagon across to the Hiawatha 


A day’s Excursion. 



















' 















































AX ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


105 


House, as walking was too slow for what was 
planned, and they were warned that the creek 
was low and not as easy rowing as usual. 

Jack had secured Faith for his companion and 
Stanley had also been successful in getting both 
boat and desired burden. 

Mrs. Holland seemed somewhat absent-minded, 
but strong, bright and wonderfully changed from 
the woman of six weeks before. 

“ If your mother lives a hundred years she 
never can be anything but charming/’ said Jack, 
as he followed Faith’s eyes, and noticed her 
mother’s distinguished profile as it was silhouetted 
against the bluest of blue skies. 

They turned north when they reached the main 
river and found drifting with the strong current 
as enjoyable to rowers as to the rest of the party. 

Great holes dug in the sides of the river banks 
aroused Daisy’s curiosity. “ What are they, Flagg ? 
Snake-holes ? ” 

“Water-rats. They will soon begin to build 
their winter-nests, and then they will cover up all 
the water-ways to them and keep snug all through 
the cold weather.” 

“ Hugh ! what horrid things they are. It makes 
me shiver to think of them,” said timid Daisy. 


106 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Wa-al, now I tell yer, them water-rats air the 
cleanest animals I know of,” said Flagg, as he 
moved his head from side to side and faultlessly 
guided his little craft around the eddies and stones 
and hidden dangers of the agitated river. 

“ I’ve seen um take a piece of apple out of the 
water an'* wash it an’ rub it an* clean it as good 
as a cook could, before they would put it to their 
mouth. An’ ef it didn’t suit um they would jest 
throw it away — yes, sir.” 

Sex made no difference to Flagg when he was 
conversing with his patrons. 

“ I suppose the flies and mosquitoes are some- 
thing terrible along here in the spring,” said 
Daisy. 

“ I guess!” was the laconic answer. “Nobody 
could stan’ um unless they burned pennyroyal or 
some of those things you find on trees. I guess 
yer call it fungus.” 

“ Will that keep off insects ?” 

“You bet. And it smells good, too. I’ll bring 
you some to the cottage, and you dry a piece and 
then light one end of it, and put it in a window by 
you, or close to your seat, on the piazza and there 
won’t a biting critter come anywhere nigh 
you.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


107 


“ Where are Jack and Faith/* asked Mrs. Hol- 
land as they landed at Tromblee*s. 

“ I guess they ain*t fur olf/* said her guide. 
“I seen um half an hour ago. It*s likely they 
stopped somewhere to get some curiosities. Miss 
Holland is a regular case for um.** 

The sun was still above the horizon, but would 
drop behind the forest before they could reach 
the Wawbeek, a good three miles away ; so Mrs. 
Holland and Mrs. Dean concluded to take the 
wagon they found waiting for them, leaving the 
two girls and Stanley to come with Faith and 
Jack. 

“Another wagon will be here in a few minutes/* 
said the host of the little country Inn — and so they 
sat on some old logs and chatted and waited. 

“ There they come/* said Stanley as the sound 
of oars cut the still air. 

“No/* said Daisy; “it is a man alone. Per- 
haps he has seen them.** 

No stranger passes unwelcomed in the woods, 
and in another instant the new arrival was accosted. 

“ Hullo ! have you seen two people in a boat 
since you came pa«t the creek ? ** 

“No. I hairrt seen nobody. Anybody see my 
dog?” 


108 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE.. 


“Youll find him somewhere Long Lake way, 
I guess,” said a guide who was waiting for some 
boats. “ I saw him up there yesterday.” 

The stranger wasted no words upon the subject, 
but pushed off and pursued his way toward Ra- 
quette Lake. 

“ I think Jack must have gone south instead 
of north when we came out of the creek,” said 
Emma. “ In that case they will not come this 
way at all, but will go back by Rustic Lodge. 
It is no use waiting for them, and here comes our 
wagon. No doubt they will get to the AVawbeek 
before we do now.” 

“ But if they have just dallied along the river, 
not realizing the time, and should get here after 
we have gone, what would they do ? ” asked Daisy, 
perhaps realizing the flight of time under some 
circumstances more fully than her sister could. 

“That can hardly be,” said Stanley, “for in 
that case the man who just stopped here would 
have passed them. I have no doubt Jack thought 
of something interesting that he wanted to show 
Miss Holland above the creek — not calculating 
wisely upon rowing against the current, and find- 
ing it too late to get down here has gone home the 
other way. Won’t they be hungry ? ” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


109 


They all had such omnipresent appetites in 
these surroundings, that an hour’s tardiness at 
meals was generally carefully guarded against by 
well-filled lunch baskets which on this occasion had 
not been thought necessary. 






























































- 














































































































. 

' 








































































“What do you say to landing on this point where all 
the logs have drifted in, etc.” — See page 116. 


XIII. 



0 you mind if I take you down the river a 


little way first ? We can catch up with the 
others easily enough. There are some pretty bits 
of shore and you will get an idea of how men 
hunt/* said Jack, as he brought up the rear of the 
procession and leisurely pulled through the creek. 

“ Fd like it," said Faith. “ How low the water 
is!" 

“ Yes, and I am going to get out here and pull 
the boat over this shallow. If we do not have 
rain soon this creek will run dry." 

Either because of Jack’s own weight or that of 
his boat, he seemed to find more difficulty in get- 
ting through shallows than the guides and Stan- 
ley had found, and when they reached Raquette 
River, none of the party were in sight. 

“We’ll go our way first, and theirs second," 
said Jack, as he turned southward. 

Faith seemed wonderfully acquiescent, only say- 
ing, “ What a large river ! I had no idea the Ra- 
quette was so imposing." 


Ill 


112 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Perhaps contrast has something to do with it. 
Almost any stream of water would impress one 
after dragging over the rocks and mud of the 
creek. Fm sorry you could not have had a pleas- 
anter impression of that bit of rowing which is 
generally very picturesque because of its incessant 
twisting and curving. IPs mighty lucky we 
brought a man for each passenger — three in a 
boat would be one too many with a vengeance. ” 
Faith was looking straight ahead, over Jack’s 
right shoulder, and still gave no sign of especial 
interest in what he said. She made a sufficiently 
distracting picture to satisfy his eye and tem- 
porarily his purpose, even if she would not look 
at him, for our slow but sure friend had planned 
even better than he knew for a few hours tete-a- 
tete with the now controlling influence of his life. 
He reasoned admirably when giving her time that 
as yet could safely be spared, before putting his 
somewhat doubtful case to the crucial test. For 
weeks had he worked out this new and intoxicating 
problem as, day by day, Cupid’s toils pressed him 
closer and closer. For weeks had he made her 
every mood and feeling his engrossing study, de- 
ducting therefrom two impressions that gave about 
as much of doubt as hope ; of anxiety as of joy. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


113 


He found her to be always puzzling and always 
enchanting. 

Whether these qualities were in the least due to 
outside conditions among which could be included 
his own appreciation and devotion, he had not 
been able to decide. One day she was like a sis- 
ter in her unaffected pleasant and even intimate 
companionship, but just as likely as not, an hour 
would change her to a mood that was no whit less 
fascinating, but, to all practical purposes, seemed 
to him as far removed from his personal participa- 
tion as though he were looking at her through an 
opera-glass. 

Then she had such unique ways of keeping him 
busy. It was — “ Do coax mother out on the lake. 
Jack ; she feels so safe with you, and you are so 
much more entertaining than a guide.” 

Jack Dean doted on FaitlTs pretty mother, and 
it was no burden to act as her escort anywhere, in 
and of itself, but when some other fellow carried 
off Faith, no matter where, it made a curious dif- 
ference in his zest for anybody's society. 

“ She is such an honest child-like nature ; not 
the least bit of a flirt — never would dream of using 
or abusing any man,” he would think, as he gal- 
lantly and loyally followed her behests, but in- 
8 


114 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


wardly restless until he had her again within sight 
and reach. 

Mrs. Holland had taken pains to acquaint her- 
self with her daughters constant companion, in as 
far as so curiously inexperienced and practically 
unsophisticated a woman might, for with all her 
pen-wisdom Miriam Holland had as little knowl- 
edge of the world as was possible to a gentlewoman 
hitherto protected from it by circumstance and 
taste. 

She felt wonderfully drawn to him, recognizing 
bis large nature — tender as a womans, strong, 
deep and loyal. At times she felt a curious sense 
of familiarity with certain gestures, expressions 
and attitudes, as though, instead of a comparatively 
new friend, he belonged to her whole life. Some- 
times she felt a real sympathy for him in view of 
the, to her, quite probable uselessness of his evi- 
dently increasing interest in Faith, for never had 
one word been exchanged between her daughter 
and herself upon the subject. As united as they 
always had been in life and thought, there were 
subtle individual reserves inseparable from their 
sensitive high-mindedness that now, for the first 
time, made discussion or even allusion to it impos- 
sible to both. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


115 


Her unvarying friendliness had been a source of 
great comfort. to Jack at times when his own cour- 
age waned, and more than once had he narrowly 
escaped confiding to her his hopes and fears, hut 
it savored too much of weakness and a little of 
disloyalty to Faith, to either approach her through 
a second party or in any way precipitate upon her 
what might be a painful position. So honest Jack 
waited until this late August day, and with calm 
deliberation carried Faith south instead of north, 
perfectly well aware that he was thus gaining for 
himself a few hours in which his prior right to her 
society was not likely to be questioned by anybody. 

“Tell me about deer-hunting, Jack,” she said, 
ignoring his remarks about the creek. “ Is this 
river-bank a favorite drinking place for deer ? ” 

“All the water-ways are their resorts when 
thirsty or when hunted. See that path running 
off through the grass and into the woods ? It is 
as hard as iron and is called a runway. Probably 
hundreds of deer have helped to beat it into its 
present condition, and during the hounding season 
you often see hunters waiting along these shores, 
gun in hand and boat drawn into the bushes, on 
the chance of getting a shot at a buck that the 
dogs have started perhaps three miles away. 


116 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


There’s one now under that tree.” Jack hailed 
the sportsman — “Seen anything to-day ?” 

“Not yet.” 

“ He’s waiting for sunset. No hounds are al- 
lowed until the 10th of September. A curious 
thing about deer is that they will run to water, 
swim across to any point of land, and almost al- 
ways double back to the starting-point, sooner or 
later, though it may be in a tremendous circle. 
And a dog will start on a scent, and although 
dozens of deer cross it, he will stick to the original 
one until he loses it in a river or lake. So you 
see water is to a deer what a boat is to a drowning 
man.” 

“Is it true that hunters are too rapidly killing 
off the Adirondack game and that there is danger 
of its becoming extinct ? ” 

“ I hardly think so. The guide on Birch Island 
told me that deer-tracks in the woods beyond the 
island, at any time through the winter after snow 
falls, are as thick as stalks in a cornfield. Now, 
Faith, what do you say to landing on this point 
where all the logs have drifted in and packed 
themselves together, and I will catch a few fish, 
while you can watch the process and give me good 
advice.” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


117 


Faith laughed. “Advice ! Now, Jack, I woiPt 
he made fun of just because I never have any 
luck. Is this a particularly quiet place for river 
trout ?” 

“ Fine ! The water hack of this point is very 
deep, and they love such dark, cool places.” 

“ But you have no bait — and we ought not to 
he gone so long from the party,” demurred Faith, 
as J ack stood before her with outstretched hands 
waiting to help her onto the shore. 

“WeVe plenty of time, and there is more bait 
in my box than I shall need. Please come.” 

He had such strong, steady, reliable ways of 
doing everything — this great fellow — and was so 
at home in the woods, that Faith had grown to 
giving up all thought about anything but en- 
joying herself whenever she was off: with him on 
their short excursions. So she let him pull her 
onto her feet and help her to a fine combination of 
tree-trunk and terraced logs, where she declared 
that all she needed was a box of candy and one 
or two of the boat cushions to perfect her con- 
tent. 

In a moment the cushions were adjusted and 
the box in her hands. 

“Jack! how thoughtful! and where noware 


118 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


you going to catch the fish? I don’t see any 
deep water.” 

“ Won’t you let me rest a moment and have a 
bit of something sweet ? ” 

Faith looked away as she answered quickly : 
“ Dear me ! do excuse me ; help yourself ” — push- 
ing the box toward him as he sat down near her. 

They were quite silent for a while. 

The summer breeze sighed through the trees 
over their heads, and the strong current from 
Long Lake brought down the river bits of drift- 
wood that made Jack think of serious things. Such 
trivial happenings sometimes serve as texts, and 
Jack was fast growing serious. 

“ Faith, do you know I often seem to myself a 
good deal like a great piece of purposeless sub- 
stance carried here and there by circumstance ; — 
at least I used to.” He had thrown off his cap and 
run his hand through his heavy bronze hair until 
it lay in loose waves all over his head. He made 
Faith think of a picture she had seen once. She 
had forgotten its title and its creator, but the 
general pose of the central figure and the expres- 
sion of the face were vividly recalled, as she looked 
at her companion, and she wondered what it was 
in both that so appealed to her. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


119 


“ What is wrong, Jack ?” she asked, smitten 
with real, if dangerous, interest. “ Why do you 
look like that ? ” 

He never had seen such an unreserve in Faith’s 
eyes before. It seemed as if a veil had fallen and 
for the first time they knew each other. 

It gave him a liberty of speech and action that 
would have been impossible five minutes be- 
fore. 

“ What is the matter with me ? ” he cried as he 
pulled himself up to her level and bent over her — 
holding her eyes in a wide-open, intent, spellbound 
gaze that his own seemed to meet and answer. 

“I am hungry and thirsty. Faith. I am home- 
less and desolate and hopeless, forever, unless you 
love me.” 

She still looked at him, breathing quickly, and 
flushing vividly, while his whole face paled with 
intense feeling, and his lips trembled with the su- 
preme effort he made to control himself. His voice 
sounded like the refrain of an organ, deep, sono- 
rous, tender, and she knew from the bottom of her 
soul that the words he had spoken were truth. 
Still she made no answer — unless the involuntary 
placing of both her hands on his shoulders and an 
equally involuntary gesture of gentle resistance 


120 AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 

against his nearer approach conveyed any meaning 
to him. 

He, finding the suspense intolerable, forced a 
change of attitude by tearing his gaze from her face 
and moving a step below her. 

“ Jack ! Jack ! — do you love me as much as 
that ? ” 

She had never realized before what love could 
mean. Never again would she doubt its mighty 
power, and never again would she wittingly wound 
the man who so loved her and ivhom she loved. 

Once awakened to this fact. Faith Holland was 
not the girl to waste another moment in doubts and 
fears. 

Radiant, joyful, and proud as a young queen just 
enthroned, she threw her arms about her waiting 
lover’s neck, as he turned at her words, and for that 
supreme moment the sun seemed to stand still, the 
heavens to open to those two, apd a new history 
was begun. 

****** 

“ Seven o’clock ! by all that is earthly,” ejacu- 
lated Jack, some hours later, as Faith insisted upon 
his looking at his watch, “ and not a lady dressed 
for the ball ! ” 

“ In other words,” translated Faith, trying to 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


121 


look severe and succeeding only in adding a new 
charm to the thousands, more or less, that Jack had 
been enlarging upon — “not either of us anywhere 
near where we should be. Really Jack, if love has 
such an influence upon good common sense as we 
seem to be proving — stop, sir ! Let me go.” 

“ Love is a madness,” quoth Jack Dean, evi- 
dently relishing Faith’s helplessness, as she made a 
quick movement toward the boat and missing it, 
fell across the strong outstretched arm. 

“ What is it ? ” aske£ Jack, as he saw her sud- 
denly whiten and heard her mock command change 
to a stifled cry. 

“ Oh — please — nlease, dear, put me down some- 
where. I — oh ! — ” and therewith Miss Faith Hol- 
land fainted quite away. 
















































































XIV. 

Tl/fES. HOLLAND was getting very anxious. It 
^ was nearly eight o'clock. The two Dean 
girls and Mr. Stanley had long since arrived from 
Tromblee's, having neither seen nor heard any- 
thing of Faith or Jack, and no one of the arrivals 
from the south end of the lake had any news to 
tell of them. 

They were all sitting together in the summer- 
house discussing the situation and hesitating be- 
tween letting Stanley take a guide and go over the 
morning trail, or the entire party going. 

The night was oppressively warm anywhere out 
of the delicious breeze that seldom fails the Adi- 
rondack region at night, and the moon would be 
in full evidence after nine o'clock. 

There seemed no reason for any one to stay be- 
hind that wished to go, and a certain unspoken 
dread made unity of purpose and action desirable. 

“ I think if you will order the guides and boats 
to be ready we can meet you at the boat-house in 


124 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


a few minutes," said Mrs. Holland ; and, as Stan- 
ley disappeared, she added to her women-friends : 
“Something serious has happened. Of that T 
am certain. Neither Faith nor Jack would have 
been so far behind us simply through carelessness. 
Faith never causes me anxiety if she can avoid it, 
and there is some good and sufficient reason that 
is detaining them. Whatever it is I should go to 
her, and I hope you all will feel like going with 
me." 

“ Of course we do," said Mrs. Dean, “though I 
never feel the least troubled about Jack or any 
one he has the care of," — with a suspicion of re- 
sentment in her voice, — “ hut it is too warm to stay 
on land, and even if we meet them very soon after 
starting, it will he pleasant to get onto the lake 
again. I do not feel in the least tired — do you ? " 

“ Oh, no ; hut I am impatient to find our run- 
aways," answered Mrs. Holland, with thinly-dis- 
guised uneasiness. 

They soon had wraps and cushions adjusted, and 
three boats glided out from the landing, heading 
for Rustic Lodge. 

They passed many couples and some more 
heavily-laden boats drifted with the current, the 
young people in them singing college songs that 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


125 


the shores echoed hack to them with musical accu- 
racy. 

A few friends recognized them and hailed them 
gaily. It always was Stanley that answered, how- 
ever, the women merely waving a hand or nod- 
ding. Each one watched for, thought of, and 
wondered about the absent, whatever words their 
lips might utter, and once Stanley asked a man, 
rowing alone, if he had been out all day — having 
seen him last at the other end of Indian Carry, 
where they had last seen Jack — and he answered. 

Yes, I went the other way and got as far as 
Raquette Ealls, but it was the hardest pull I ever 
made.” 

Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Dean involuntarily 
looked at each other, as though hoping one would 
ask the question both so eagerly desired answered, 
but some second thought seemed to influence 
them alike, and Mrs. Dean looked away while 
Faith's mother remained silent. 

At Rustic Lodge they all landed, telling the 
guides they would go up to the house for a while. 

As they slowly walked up the hill Mrs. Holland, 
speaking so all could hear, but addressing Stan- 
ley, said : “ I have been thinking it all over very 
carefully and have decided in my own mind that 


126 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


some accident has happened. Neither Faith nor 
Jack would willingly keep us all in suspense in 
this way. Of course it is not wise to make any 
stir about them, for the newspaper correspondents 
would magnify the matter into something tragic 
at once, and we should all appear in the papers 
under startling head-lines. If you, Mr. Stanley, 
are willing to go with a guide and me, and follow 
the Raquette south until you find some clue to 
them, I shall be very grateful. Perhaps Mrs. 
Dean would like to go, too.” 

“ No ; I think I had better stay here with the 
girls. We do not happen to know any one, so we 
can be quiet and no questions will be asked. If 
you do not get back by ten o’clock, we will return 
to the Wawbeek and keep house until you do. 
Perhaps you will conclude to stay over night at 
the Hiawatha and keep Faith with you rather than 
row any further, for I am sure you will meet them 
somewhere along the way, none the worse for a 
little loitering. You know that man said it was 
hard rowing against the current, and with the 
heat and all, no wonder they have taken it slowly. 

So it was decided that the Deans would return 
at their leisure, and Mrs. Holland pursued her 
quest — a carriage taking her to the Hiawatha 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


127 


House that stood on the bank of Stoney Creek 
pond, where Stanley stopped to ask about accom- 
modations in case Mrs. H. decided to remain there 
over night. 

“ You had better sit right there, until I find 
out about it,” he said, as he jumped out of the 
vehicle. It is nine o’clock now, and the moon 
will soon make it as light as day. I can row you 
to Raquette Falls, if necessary. There is a small 
hotel there. But we may not care to go that far.” 

Mrs. Holland was not in the least an hysterical 
woman, under any circumstances, and she had 
great confidence in the good sense and the physical 
strength of her daughter ; so, while she was deter- 
mined to join her wherever she might be, she felt 
no greater anxiety than naturally accompanied such 
an unusual state of things, fearing unpleasantness 
rather than danger. 

Sitting in the carriage and looking toward the 
creek, she spied a boat approaching that seemed 
to contain but one man, who was pulling with de- 
liberation and evident care. He was a large man, 
so large that not until he swung the boat around a 
little to get it alongside the landing did Mrs. Hol- 
land catch a glimpse of another figure sitting so 
low in the boat as to have been quite hidden, and 


128 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


it did not take a moment more to spring from the 
carriage and rim down the hillside. 

“ Jack — Faith — why, my dear child, what is the 
matter ? " for instead of the usual greeting and 
impulsive exit from the boat, Faith only raised her 
head from the cushion back of it and rather trem- 
ulously cried, c: Oh, mother dear. I am so glad 
you are here. I did not know what we should do 
— but now it's all right ; " whereupon she resumed 
her half recumbent position, as if nothing more 
remained for her to worry about. 

“ Don't be troubled, Mrs. Holland," said Jack, 
as he carefully stepped on shore. “ Faith slipped 
on some logs and I'm afraid something is wrong 
with her ankle, for it has pained her awfully, and 
we've had to go very slowly and carefully so as not 
to jostle it. I do hope you've not been anxious 
about her. After the accident it seemed to take 
ages to get her comfortably fixed in the boat, and 
it took such a time to get through the creek. Poor 
child — I am afraid she found it a real via dolorosa, 
with all the dragging and rocks." 

He looked down at her with infinite tenderness 
— mopping his face — and then shaking himself 
into shape, added : “ And how in the world did 
you come here, dear Mrs. Holland ? Were you 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


129 


troubled ? Oh ! I say, that’s too bad. Didn’t you 
know I would bring her back as safely as — well — 
as I could ? ” He put out his hands in a half 
beseeching, half reproving way that again mistily 

reminded Mrs. Holland of something familiar. 

* 

“ I knew you would spare no effort,” she an- 
swered ; “ but. Faith, can you not get out of the 
boat ? Is the ankle sprained ? ” 

“ I can’t say, dear, but every time I try to move, 
it nearly kills me. I never could bear pain, you 
know, and have frightened Jack nearly out of his 
senses three times already by fainting. Isn’t it 
childish of me ? ” 

“ Not a bit,” promptly cried Jack. 

“ Now, Mrs. Holland, if you say so, I can get 
Stanley — I see him coming — to help me make an 
impromptu ambulance, and we can carry Faith 
wherever you decide she is to go. We can get her 
to the cottage at Wawbeek just as well as not, and 
there you can have proper advice.” 

So they got a carry wagon, and the two men 
hoisted Faith, boat and all, upon it, mounting 
guard on either side to amuse her as Stanley inci- 
dentally remarked, while Mrs. Holland followed, 
sole occupant of the carriage, with no one to in- 
terrupt the thoughts that were curiously divided 
9 


130 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


between relief at finding matters no worse, hope of 
a speedy deliverance for Faith from physical dis- 
comfort and the turning over of various perplex- 
ing indications that suggested some crisis close at 
hand. 

They found the Deans ready to start on the 
Fomeward row and apparently not in the least 
surprised or alarmed at the outcome of the whole 
matter. 

“ Poor dear,” said Mrs. Dean. “ IPs too bad, 
but you will soon be all right, and isn’t it a bless- 
ing that Jack was with you ? lie is so big and 
strong. ” 

Faith’s answer sounded thoroughly conventional 
to most of the party. 

“ I cannot be grateful enough that he was with 
me, dear Mrs. Dean ; ” but Jack Dean nearly fell 
off the carry wagon under the intoxicating influ- 
ence of the smile and look directed solely at him. 


TTFHEN Hillside Cottage was reached the hotel 
" " gave no other signs of life than a few lights 
gleaming from some of the windows. The piazzas 
were deserted, and no one was in sight. 

The men made a chair and carried Faith up the 
hill and to her own room, where in another hour 
the house physician had examined the trouble- 
some member, applied his most scientific treat- 
ment to it, and left her with the assurance that 
nothing more serious than a short sacrifice of out- 
door pleasures and exercise seemed imminent. 

When at last the door closed upon him, and 
Faith and her mother were alone, they both felt 
drawn to each other by a subtle and instant 
intuition. 

“ Mother, my dear, darling little mother.” 
Faith put both arms around her mothers neck 
and kissed her eagerly, tenderly, on lips and 
cheek, as if she longed to express an unchanged 
and unchangeable devotion before acknowledging 
another. 


131 


132 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ Are you comfortable now, dear ? " asked her 
mother, returning the embrace with equal fervor, 
but determined, if possible, to avert exciting dis- 
cussions, at least for that night. 

Mother-love possessed her, and even the suspicion 
of an approaching rival struck like a death-blow. 
She had not yet faced such a possibility in any 
definite shape. Faith had always been so com- 
pletely her own that a future apart from her never 
had been seriously admitted to her consideration. 
In spite of her eighteen years, she had been her 
“ little girl 99 in all brooding, tender ways, and until 
within a few days had seemed as satisfied and com- 
plete in her mother’s love as could be desired by 
either. That some subtle change had come or was 
pending Mrs. Holland felt, and her heart sank 
within her. Faith, reading the dear face keenly, 
perceived the truth, and felt her helplessness to 
avert the pang. 

At that moment she first realized how much her 
day’s experience involved, for while the spell of 
Jack’s presence had been upon her there had 
seemed nothing else in the world but him. Now 
she felt a new sense of responsibility, and half 
frightened, accomplished by action what she hesi- 
tated to attempt by words. Gently pushing away 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


133 


her mother, that she might easier reach a little 
chain about her neck, she unfastened a locket sus- 
pended from it and handed it to her mother. 

Mrs. Holland took it silently, opened it and 
examined the face within. At first she could not 
catch the somewhat faded picture and so turned 
to the more direct light from a shaded lamp. 

A look of great surprise passed over her face as 
she exclaimed, “ My Faith, where did you get 
this ? ” 

Faith did not answer at once. Her lips were 
quivering and her cheeks were flaming. She 
never moved her eyes from her mother's, who 
seemed lost in contemplation of the photograph. 
Not receiving an answer she finally looked around. 
“ Who is it, dear ? I thought when I first looked 
that I knew the face, and certainly it is strangely 
familiar." 

“ Why, mother dear, it is Jack. Look again. 
Isn't it just like him now ? Of course it is fa- 
miliar. It was taken when he was sixteen and a 
cadet at a military academy. Just think how he 
would be without his great moustache and weigh- 
ing about fifty pounds less, and you could not 
have a better likeness. Isn't it a sweet expres- 
sion ? Do come over here and talk with me. 


134 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


mother. I have so much to tell you, and — oh, 
my dear little mother, I do so want to tell you 
everything. A girl never realizes how much she 
needs a mother until she finds out other things. 
You and I have always been so happy together. 
I did not believe any one could be more content 
than we were, and now, dear mother, I am learn- 
ing a new lesson and — you must learn it with me, 
as you have all my lessons,” — here Faith stretched 
out her arm, — “ will you not love Jack too ? for 
/love him.” 

Miriam Holland made no response. She only 
looked at the picture with a strange intentness, 
until a grieved exclamation from Faith started 
her. 

Then she sat down on the bed by her, trying to 
speak quietly, but carried away with every word 
into a storm of conflicting emotions. 

“ Jack — you love him ? Oh, Faith ! My one 
only darling ! my heart’s companion ! Do you 
love him ? Can you be sure of it in such a little 
time ? ” — wherewith they fell into each other’s 
arms, tearfully caressing, and soothing one an- 
other, until, little by little, they both grew calm 
enough to discuss the situation. 

“ I did not know myself, mother dear ; really. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


135 


I (lid not, until Jack turned away from me as if 
he was discouraged and going to give up. He 
looked so miserable — that — it went to my heart — 
and then, — why, mother — mother — don’t you know 
how it is?” 

“ Yes, Faith, I understand. I am trying to 
be glad with you. I think Jack Dean is a fine 
fellow, but there are so many things to be con- 
sidered. How did you leave the matter ? ” 

Faith laughed. “I didn’t have much to do 
about that. You see, I couldn’t help showing 
him how I felt, and then he told me all about 
himself, and then I fell and fainted away, and he 
had that awful time getting me into the boat, 
and was so dear all the way, though it must have 
been a terrible pull, for I am no light weight now 
and you and Mr. Stanley were at the landing, so 
nothing more was said — but, mother, he will talk 
with you to-morrow, and you will be just as sweet, 
to him as you are to me ; ” wherewith another 
tender episode brought to both the realization 
that they must resign the excitements of the day 
for the restoring spell of night and sleep, and 
Faith’s last whisper was, “ Good-night, dearest of 
little mothers. I never knew how much 1 loved 
you before.” 










































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. 












































































■ 























XVI. 



ALSY DEAN also had her story to tell, but 


she waited a few days, that Ned Murray 
might have opportunity to write her definitely. In 
the meantime Emma had preserved a considerate 
silence, contenting herself with an unobtrusive 
watchfulness that in no way became distasteful to 
her reticent sister. 

Emma had her trials. 

Never before had Daisy failed to share all her 
experiences with her, and it was strange and some- 
times saddening to feel that Ned Murray’s com- 
ings and goings were of more vital interest to her 
sister than her own. Not yet having experienced 
the absorbing etfects of a first and strong love, she 
could only feel the strangeness of her own loneli- 
ness and at times positively disliked Murray, as its 
cause. But Emma Dean was incapable of any 
dog-in-the-manger feeling and made the best of 
things. 

As Eaith was unable to leave her room for the 


137 


138 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


next week and Jack made no pretense of interest 
in outside things, being most of the time by her 
side — as she was nested on a lounge by the open 
window — or acting as oarsman to Mrs. Holland 
when the latter was sent out for her constitutional, 
while Mrs. Dean and the girls took her place by the 
invalid, Stanley was made the escort of any parties 
formed for the excursions still left upon their list 
that could not be deferred without danger of being 
altogether given up ; for September would soon be 
upon them and the hotels would put on a quite 
dilferent aspect. 

Mrs. Dean, Daisy, Emma and Stanley had thus 
made a single day inspection of the lovely Lake 
Placid region. 

The day chosen for the trip was made a long 
and exceedingly interesting one ; the quartette 
going by launch to the Inn, by stage to the station, 
a short ride on the Adirondack and St. Lawrence 
railroad bringing them to the Saranac and Lake 
Placid road, of but ten miles length, that landed 
them within a mile of Lake Placid. 

Here they hired a comfortable carriage, with 
driver, and made the charming tour of the twin 
lakes. 

“ If Faith was here she would he like the Irish- 
























" 






































Jolly White Face Inn. — Where they found some friends. 




AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE, 


139 


man — "struck spacheless" with ecstasy/" said 
Emma, as they dashed along the roads with their 
western slopes of successive hotels and cottages, 
and their eastern bank terminating in the Lake 
Placid or Mirror Lake waters. 

The Grand View House beguiled them from 
the carriage with its promise of extraordinary 
mountain and country glimpses, and they felt well 
repaid for their climb. 

The Stevens House, standing on the high neck 
of land that separates Placid from Mirror Lake, 
next detained them long enough to walk about its 
piazzas and get the various bird’s-eye views, so well 
known to tourists. Then they went on to the 
other points of interest about Lake Placid, taking 
lunch at jolly Whiteface Inn, where they found 
some friends made the previous winter at “ The 
Pines/" Lakewood, New Jersey — who took them 
out on the lake and showed them some of the 
camps on the shores. 

On the home stretch they made one more stop, 
at the Ruisseaumont, on the east shore of Lake 
Placid, about two miles from the station, and 
climbed to its tower, — a goodly vantage point of 
view — among and above the tree-tops, from which 
they could look westerly across the lake. 


140 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


(< This house is unique,” said Stanley. “Do 
you notice that each room has its own piazza ? ” 

“ It is a real woodland retreat,” answered Emma, 
“and a friend of mine who was here last year said 
they had no end of fun all through the season. 
Balls and concerts and camp-fires, and all sorts of 
festivities.” 

****** 

They could not quite manage to include a visit 
to John Brown's grave unless they stayed over 
night, and Daisy made various vigorous protests 
against that, being anxious to get her letters at 
the Wawbeek, so they took the train back, reach- 
ing the cottage about nine o’clock. 


Across the leafy ocean peeped the Ruisseaumont. 


k 








XVII. 


FEW days later, after a refreshing rain had 



flooded the country and made the earth re- 
joice, Faith announced herself as ready to go some- 
where. “ I am all right now, and a change will do 
me good. Don^t you think so, dear ? ” 

She was alone with her mother and they had 
just been talking of Jack, and of many half-formed 
plans. 

Jack had given his whole history to Mrs. Hol- 
land the very day after the accident, and had been 
put on probation, so far as any engagement was 
concerned. 

Mrs. Holland had something on her mind. She 
frankly told Jack that she sympathized with Faith 
and with him in their desires and hopes. "I 
thoroughly like you. Jack, dear boy, and I en- 
tirely believe in you — hut Faith is a young girl and 
it is not wise to act hurriedly. Be as much to- 
gether as usual and enjoy each other as you have 
all summer, but yield to my desire that nothing be 


141 


142 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


settled until after we get home. That is a good 
fellow” — with an affectionate pat on Jack’s shoul- 
der that made him doubly sure of her good will. 
With Faith she would talk, but they never got be- 
yond generalities. 

She often opened the picture and re-examined 
it with undisguised interest ; but seldom said any- 
thing about it. Faith wondered why her mother 
was so much interested in it. Still more did she 
wonder why Mrs. Dean and her mother were not 
more drawn together since Jack’s avowal of his 
love for her. 

The girls had not been told. 

Mrs. Holland had never asked either Faith or 
Jack to keep the matter private, but as nothing 
was definite, naturally there was no desire on either 
side to discuss the situation publicly. 

On this morning Faith felt like a bird that had 
been shut up in a cage and was impatient to try 
its wings. 

“ Where would you like to go ? ” asked her 
mother. 

“ No one has been to Child wold Park, and the 
pictures of it are lovely,” answered Faith. 

“ Let us see what Stoddard says about it in his 
‘ The Adirondacks,’ ” said Mrs. Holland, reach- 
























- 












































































There gleamed the Massawepie and beyond stretched Child wold. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


143 


ing for the little green guidebook. “ Why, it's 
only a short distance from Saranac Inn Station. 
We can easily go there for dinner and get hack here 
for supper. If you feel like it we will all go to- 
morrow. " 

Everybody favored the plan, and for the first 
time since the Raquette River excursion, the entire 
party, minus Ned Murray, got out at Childwold 
Station the next noon and took the five-mile 
drive to the hotel through a private park that 
in dimensions, if not cultivation, seemed quite 
English. 

“ You can often see deer along here," said the 
driver, “ but after the hunting season opens they 
know too much to hang around public roads." 

When the hotel, across Lake Massawepie, sud- 
denly came into view, everybody exclaimed at its 
magnitude and picturesque appearance. 

“ Isn't it a surprise, when you think you are in 
the heart of the forest ? " said Mrs. Dean, as they 
completed the circling way around the lake to the 
finely-kept lawns and hotel, grounds. 

“ This is another sort of life entirely from the 
Saranac's," said Stanley. “They have a large 
number of the patrons of the hotels in Florida 
here every season, and the social life is charming. 


144 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


People get to know each other so well, winter- 
ing and summering together. Then some choice 
house-parties are given in the camps/’ 

“ You see the house or cottage next the hotel/*’ 
he continued. “It is called ‘ Wohegan Hut/ but 
really is one of the most luxuriously furnished and 
exquisitely decorated cottages in the woods. There 
is a dream of a music-room with polished wooden 
floor, dull-gold and ebony tints in cushions, rugs 
and hangings, and a fireplace large enough for a 
castle hall. Then there is a Turkish tea-room in 
soft grays and silvery whites, with a maze of deli- 
cate fans upon the walls, and cosy tables covered 
with rare china enticingly nested among divans and 
lounging chairs, and next it a card-room that must 
be seen to be appreciated. This enticing ‘ Hut * 
is but one of many belonging to the same host and 
hostess, the others being on an island across the 
lake, where f Roof -tree Camp/ ‘ Bachelor’s Roost 9 
and ‘ The Dining Hut ’ are kept in constant readi- 
ness for guests the year around ; and the wine and 
provision cellars are stocked with sufficient to meet 
a six months’ siege.” 

“ I wish we could see it all,” said Faith. 

“ Nothing easier if we were to stay a day or two. 
I am fortunate enough to know the hospitable 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


145 


owner and his admirable wife — but one can hardly 
take by storm such an establishment.” 

They wandered all over the cleared woodland, 
lawn-tennis grounds and pleasure buildings, ex- 
cept Faith and Jack, who prudently contented 
themselves with a row on the lake, a peep into 
Mrs. Ingold’s day-camp — one of the finest in the 
Adirondacks, furnished in rustic work, where a 
five o’clock tea-table often forms the raison-d’etre 
for a sunset gathering — and a happy tete-a-tete 
all through the too short hours permitted them, 
before retracing their balsam-scented way to the 
station. 

As they stood on the platform watching the 
train’s approach, Emma commented upon the 
logging camp near by, and, laughing, asked Stan- 
ley if sentiment could live under such conditions. 
The rough log-houses and sheds, with their mud- 
banked foundations, unpainted fences and smoky 
interiors, through the open doors and windows of 
which could be seen women hard at work, did 
not suggest much poetry, but a young girl, lean- 
ing against a corner of the nearest building, her 
black braids tied with vivid scarlet ribbons, and 
her plain summer gown of antique fashion and 

coarse material clinging to a buxom figure, was 
io 


146 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


gaily chatting with a stalwart teamster, and nei- 
ther of them seemed to see or hear anything about 
them. 

“ Sentiment ?” said Stanley, “ yes, plenty of it, 
and there too,” he added in a lower tone, as the 
train stopped and a familiar voice was heard. 

“ Hello, Jack ! How are you, Ned ? Isn't this 
luck ? I had no idea I should see any one here 
that I knew.” 

“ Ned Murray ! ” cried everybody, as they has- 
tened to find seats and then proceeded to ply him 
with questions. 

Daisy carried herself with charming dignity and 
composure, accepting the chair next Murray, but 
showing no undue desire to monopolize him in 
any way for the short ride to the Inn station. 
When they were settled in their favorite back 
seat on top of the coach, and Emma and Stanley 
were again their protection against interruption, 
she looked into his face with a thousand questions 
in her eyes. 

Under cover of that friendly screen, with only 
the birds and branches of trees above and be- 
hind to see or hear, Murray answered them all 
as fast as looks, frequent caresses and words per- 
mitted. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 147 

The words were the least important translation 
of his story. 

“ Yes, my dearest ... I am back again 

with just ten days* leave of absence . . . and then 
we must say good-bye to America for a while. Are 

you quite willing to keep your promise ? 

oh Daisy ! what a happy man I am.” 

And Daisy also found words much less satis- 
factory, on the whole, than other mediums of ex- 
pression, hut after a mile or so of the way was ac- 
complished they fell into a serious talk concerning 
present and future plans. 

“ I told mamma and Emma all about it yester- 
day, Ned, while we were out together on the lake. 
They were just as sweet as they could be to me, 
and — isn’t it queer, they didn’t seem a bit surprised 
at anything ? ” 

Ned laughed. “Well, dear, I expect no one 
will be much surprised at the main fact. We 
have not been particularly lacking in good taste, 
that I know of, but still I dare say we have given 
ourselves away sufficiently to make the announce- 
ment of our engagement anything but unexpected. 
Did you tell the rest, Daisy, or did you leave that 
to me ?” 

“ I began at the very first chapter,” said Daisy 


148 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


with evident pride. “ I was quite determined they 
should know I had not made such a quick surren- 
der as this summering would be. I even told 
them how you fished me out of the lake three 
years ago, and all about the correspondence too. 
So you see I am through with confessions." 

“ Yes ?" answered Murray with suggestive ten- 
derness, followed by exclusively personal applica 
tions. 

“ And did you tell them what I was coming 
back for ? We have but ten days, Daisy." 

“ I talked it over, leaving them the little time 
they could have to get used to the idea, so now r 
you must do the rest. It is pretty hard for us all, 
Ned. Mamma is always ready to listen to reason, 
and so is Emma, but they both feel unwilling to 
consent to so sudden a marriage. 

“ Jack is with me any way," said Murray. “ Eve 
been clever enough to get him on my side, and 
— Daisy, you will stand by your promise ? " 

The subject could no longer be discussed, for 
Dan was stopping the coach at the Inn door 
and there was only time for Daisy to say, “ I will 
do whatever you and mamma agree upon, Ned. 
Fm sure you can make everything happy and 
comfortable." 


XVIII. 


npHAT evening was a gala time at the Waw- 
beek, in which the entire lake region was in- 
terested. 

The manager had arranged a grand benefit for 
the Adirondack Sanitarium and announced a con- 
cert and a hall to which the whole country was 
hidden. The steamer was run from the Inn, stop- 
ping at the camps all along the way for pass- 
engers. Camp fires burned in front of each clear- 
ing, sending ruddy curling tongues of light 
against the tree shadows and across the water, 
while a young moon completed the exquisite 
picture. 

The grounds of the Wawbeek were illuminated 
in various places by huge bonfires, and men were 
stationed on the most prominent points and fur- 
nished with colored lights which they burned at 
short intervals, giving a fairy-like effect to the 
whole scene. 

The Wawbeek itself glowed with lights from 

149 


150 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


turret to basement. The dining-hall was trans- 
formed into a concert-room, and afterwards into 
a ball-room, and the covered piazzas into a cool 
and spacious banqueting hall. 

Flowers from nature's slopes and valleys were 
banked in halls, parlors and music-room. Balsam 
boughs, golden-rod and purple asters clustered 
everywhere, and, as a new arrival exclaimed, the 
whole place seemed like an enchanting dream. 

No wonder that lovers felt the world their own 
under such conditions. 

“Lady B." told Mrs. Holland she envied any 
mother with daughters. “ It is such a happiness 
to see them enjoy life." Mrs. Holland sighed, 
and then, reproaching herself, smiled, but with 
effort. 

“ You have not known the perfect happiness of 
a daughter's companionship, and so cannot meas- 
ure the pain of even sharing it," she said, feel- 
ingly. 

They were sitting in a comer of the impro- 
vised ball-room and for the moment were free to 
talk without restraint. Circumstances had drawn 
them closely together, and a strong mutual con- 
fidence and admiration had grown into a comfort- 
able friendliness. Lady B. knew the trend of 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


151 


Mrs. Holland's thoughts and said : “ I never had 
a daughter. Nevertheless I understand fully 
what you mean. There is no escape from that 
keen suffering, hut, like all experiences, it has its 
compensations, and time will reveal them to you. 
I'm a poor preacher," she laughed, somewhat sadly. 
“ I cannot practice well enough to comfort any 
one much, but still — you must he fond of that 
handsome manly fellow," indicating Jack Dean 
with a slight nod of her beautiful head. 

Mrs. Holland assented warmly. 

“ He is all I could ask for — only I cannot feel 
the need of anyone in that capacity for a long 
while yet." 

“ Lady B." laughed again. 

“It is no use, my dear. You cannot postpone 
young people's romances to your own convenience. 
Call it Fate, or Providence, or what you will. 
When the time comes an army of mothers do not 
count." 




































































































r 






























- 

































































































































XIX. 



REAT was the excitement all through the 


Upper Saranac region when the rumor first 
went abroad that there was to be a wedding in the 
Island Chapel on September twelfth. 

It leaked out through the servants who accident- 
ally overheard a discussion of some of the arrange- 
ments at Hillside Cottage, and was wondered 
over considerably before sundry engagements of 
guides, boats, flowers and wedding breakfast at 
the hotel were made. 

The first week in September was cold, rainy 
and windy, as it often is. The foolish ones fled to 
the cities, assuming autumn to have come to stay. 
Sportsmen arrived to fill their places, impatient 
for the tenth, when they could let loose their dogs 
and hag their game without fear of the law. 

The new woman, ambitious of aim and practiced 
of eye, planned for her prey, of more than one 
sort, and meanwhile tramped up and down the 
piazzas and breasted the lake winds in efforts to 
keep in good condition. 


153 


154 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


Blossom Bungalow became the Mecca of the 
Hillside Cottage party, and its mistress the hourly 
comfort of everybody, for now that Daisy’s plans 
were publicly announced, no one seemed so in- 
dispensable. Large experience in life, practical 
knowledge of what was correct and the best ways 
of attaining it, with a positive genius for decora- 
tion, made her advice and assistance invaluable, 
and she seemed to enjoy giving unstintedly of 
both. 

The girls were in a whirl of excitement, and 
Emma and her mother found the days too short 
for the letters that must be written, and the ar- 
rangements of a purely practical character that no 
one else would attend to. 

Naturally the lovers were apt to prove unreli- 
able — both sets of them — for Jack managed to get 
almost as exclusive possession of Faith’s society as 
Ned did of Daisy’s, although only by sufferance. 
Mrs. Dean knew enough of her son’s wishes, and 
was content enough with their probable attain- 
ment to give herself no anxiety either pro or con. 

Naturally she was absorbed in Daisy’s present 
needs, and was the last one to yield assent to the 
Island Chapel wedding. She would have much 
preferred opening the great country house in 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


155 


Stockbridge, where her ancestors had lived and 
died for generations back, and where their social 
world was close at hand. 

“ But it would take a month to get ready, and 
if these impatient children insist upon sailing on 
the fifteenth, it is no use thinking about that,” 
she had declared. 

“It is not Ned, nor it is not me, mamma, that 
you must blame, but that horrid man who is 
making so much trouble for everybody over in 
Paris. We shall be fortunate if he does not suc- 
ceed in carrying out his plans and leading Ned a 
hot chase across the continent. I couldn't refuse 
my poor boy anything when he was in so much 
trouble, for you see his father is all mixed up in 
the matter, and nobody but Ned knows enough 
about it to act effectually. Mr. Murray is the 
very salt of the earth — but a man that is easily 
imposed upon ; — and this scoundrel very nearly 
ruined him. When Ned went away that morning 
he did not know what would be the result, but lie 
is too clever for rogues to manage.” 

During the intervening days before the wed- 
ding, after the sun shone again, and the inevi- 
table term of September heat changed the whole 
Adirondack atmosphere into a glory, and the uni* 


156 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


versal expression into rejoicing that no city en- 
vironments had beguiled them away, Mrs. Holland 
and Faith made up their minds that they would 
go down the Raquette River and Long Lake to 
the Grove House, where a young friend of Faith’s 
was staying. It was a two days’ trip, and Jack 
was much torn between his desire to go with them 
and his sense of duty toward his family, which 
made leaving them at this busy time inopportune. 

Faith settled the matter for him. 

“ I will not even invite you, Jack. You cannot 
he spared from here, and, besides that, it will do 
you good to be without me for a while.” 

Jack distinctly resented this statement, but 
yielded as cheerfully as possible to the inevitable. 

So they parted in the fresh early morning, at 
the boat-house landing, Faith and her mother, 
with their guide, turning southward to the well- 
known Indian Carry, while Jack devoted himself 
to whatever was needing his attention at the cot- 
tage. It was one o’clock that noon when the 
guide pulled them up to the Island House land- 
ing for dinner and a rest. 

“ The chief beauty of this lake is splendid old 
Seward, mother. Is it not ? ” said Faith. “ The 
shores are pretty all along, but that mountain 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


157 


seems to take up the whole northern horizon. It 
looks perfectly huge. Flagg, is it not larger than 
any other mountain about here ? ” 

They had rested an hour and were again in the 
boat, passing the Platt Camp on the east shore 
and the Duryea Camp nearly opposite. 

“Wa-al, I guess Seward covers more ground 
than any of urn,” answered Flagg. “Marcy, hi 
Mclntire, hi White Face air higher than what 
Seward is. Stoddard calls Seward number eigh- 
teen in his book, and I guess he knows es much 
es anybody about um. But ter my eyes Seward 
is es pretty a mountain as anybody wants ter 
look at.” 

“ This lake seems so much more remote from 
civilization than the Saranacs,” said Mrs. Holland. 
“ I think I would like next year to go through to 
the great heart of the North Woods, where it is 
really wild and bold.” 

“You'd orter go to Blue Mountain Lake,” said 
Flagg. “It's fine all around there.” 

“ Next season we will, I hope,” said Faith, in- 
wardly wondering how large a party they would 
be, and glancing at her mother to read her 
thoughts. 

Mrs. Holland's face wore a mask. Faith thought 


158 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


it often did lately. She could not understand, but 
hoped and waited. 

As they passed Long Lake Village, Faith asked 
the guide what business was carried on. “ It 
seems quite a place. How do they occupy them- 
selves during the long winter months ? ” 

“Some lumbers, and some farms, and more 
hunts and guides. There’s a few stores and a good 
many fine boats come from about here. We think 
our Saranac Lake boats can’t he beat though. I 
make boats in the winter,” he modestly an- 
nounced. 

The Grove House proved to be above the great 
house they had seen for some time, that stood out 
on a bluff on the east shore, some four miles from 
the head of the lake. 

“ That is the Sagamore,” said Flagg. “It is a 
regular big hotel with room enough for two hun- 
dred and fifty folks. Areal nice place. You can 
take a coach there to Blue Mountain Lake — only 
nine miles. That’s the Lake House just below, 
and I guess you can see the Grove House among 
them pine trees. David is one of the nicest men 
in the woods. Everybody likes him. That’s the 
owner — David Helms. He’s a first-class hunter, 
an’ guide too, he is. Half of these fellers that 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


159 


calls themselves guides air jest nothing but rowers. 
They don't know nothing about guiding — but 
David is fust-class." 

They were warmly welcomed by a sweet-faced 
girl who was waiting for them on the little landing, 
over which Faith proceeded to spread her impos- 
ing length in the futile endeavor to step out of 
the boat after a four hours' cramped sitting. 

The united efforts of guide and by-standers 
rescued her from an impromptu bath, and they 
went up to the pleasant living-room in the cottage 
next the hotel, where a jolly fire snapped in the 
stone fireplace and pretty cosy furnishings be- 
trayed the touch of womanly taste. 

“ Oh, I am so glad you have come. This is 
such a dear place, and the people are so friendly 
and kind," said the young hostess. 

That evening after supper they went out to the 
open camp, but a step from the house, where a 
foot or two of balsam boughs were packed all over 
the floor and the great camp fire roared in front. 
It made a weird, brilliant, fitful blaze accompanied 
by a musical roaring and crackling. The men of 
the hotel kept it well supplied with material, and 
the camp floor was occupied with recumbent fig- 
ures whose eyes were fixed on the glowing pile 


160 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


and whose ears devoured the stories from any of 
the group inclined to talk. 

“ Isn’t this glorious ? ” said Faith. “ It is so 
exactly suitable to the place. I wonder why wo 
do not have camp-fires at the Wawbeek ?” 

“ You would not care for them so much there,’* 
said her mother. “ In the first place you aro 
always dressed for the drawing-room in the even- 
ing and then it is not cold enough. Remember, 
this is September, and a fire is agreeable even in- 
doors, now.” 

A tall figure joined the group just then and 
somebody called out, “ Hello, Uncle John — glad 
to see you. Sit down here in this chair. Boys, 
stir up the fire — let’s get Uncle John to tell us- 
about Murray.” 

“ That’s Murray’s guide,” whispered Faith’s- 
friend to her. “ He loves to talk. Speak to- 
him.” 

Faith left that delicate mission to her mother, 
who was formally introduced and then carefully 
drew out the old man. 

“ So you really knew Mr. Murray, Uncle John ? ’* 
she said, as a starter. 

“Yes, ma’am. I guess I knew him ’bout as 
well as anybody did. I guided him the first season 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


161 


he come into the woods and kep' it np as long as 
he did." 

The old man laughed when he was asked if all 
the Adirondack tales were founded on facts. 

“Wa-11 — I ain't er goin' to say nothin' about 
that. Murray was a great scholar an' had a lot of 
imagination, sartin, but he knew what a gun could 
do, and could beat any man I ever see that wa'n't 
brought up in the woods, at shootin' or fishin' or 
handlin' a boat. That's the truth. An' he was 
the handsomest feller I ever see come out of the 
cities." 

“ Uncle John Plummer is one of the oldest in- 
habitants of the Long Lake Regions," supple- 
mented Faith's friend. “ Isn't he wonderfully 
straight and strong ? " 

“ I suppose it is the life out of doors that keeps 
all these guides in such splendid health," answered 
Faith. 

They left the Grove House early the next morn- 
ing by carriage and took the pretty drive to the 
Long Lake Village landing, where their boat and 
guide met them, and the trip up the lake and 
back to the Saranac was accomplished, with the 
rest at Raquette Falls and the walk across the 

carry to the river, in seven hours. At half-past 

ii 


162 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


four they were at the cottage and inspecting a 
large package of letters. At least Mrs. Holland 
was. Faith was interviewing Jack Dean on the 
piazza in front of their sitting-room. He was tell- 
ing her about the music he had ordered for the 
wedding festivities. 

“ The trio, with Victor Harris at the organ, 
will play for a half-hour before the wedding pro- 
cession enters. We found a piano at one of the 
•camps- that can be carried to the chapel. Stanley 
and I have made an appointment with two of the 
guides, to spend the afternoon of the eleventh in 
decorating the place. It will be nothing but bal- 
sam and golden-rod ; and the twelve bridal boats 
are to be canopied with pure white awnings and 
decorated with the same flowers. I had to send 
away for the boats. Guide boats are not heavy 
enough. The chapel invitations have to be care- 
fully made out and everybody is admitted by card 
It’s going to be awfully pretty if only the weather 
keeps fine.” 

“What will you do if it should be stormy ?” 

“The best we can ; just have it here ; and of 
course the breakfast will be at the hotel. Why, 
what is the matter with your mother ? ” 

Faith hastily turned and looked toward the 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


163 


window where Mrs. Holland had been reading her 
letters. She still sat there, but was no longer 
reading. Her face was white, and she seemed to 
he suffering. 

In a moment Faith was at her side. 

“ What is it, mother ? ” she anxiously asked. 
“ Are you ill ? ” 

“No — no, dear; not ill. I shall be all right 
presently. I think ” — vaguely looking about the 
room and clutching the letters in her lap — “ I think 
perhaps I am tired. I will go to my own room.” 

She got up feebly and walked across the room 
falteringly, Faith vainly trying to relieve her of 
the mass of correspondence. 

“Let me put them on your desk, dear, and you 
lie down for a while.” 

But her mother insisted upon carrying them 
herself and locking them in a private drawer where 
she kept all her valuables. 

Then she submitted to Faith's ministrations and 
was tucked away on her lounge and left in quiet 
and darkness to try and sleep, while Faith sped 
across the grounds to consult the house-physician, 
who pronounced Mrs. Holland's condition a very 
natural result of such a severe tax upon her 
strength as the too long trip she had just taken. 


164 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


“ She is so much stronger than when she came 
here that she sometimes forgets there is vet neces- 
sity for prudence,” he added. “Keep her quiet 
for a day or two and I think she will be all right.” 

j|« Sfc ^ ♦ 

Left alone, Miriam Holland reviewed her life. 
Sleep was undesired. She wished only for silence 
and opportunity to think. How could she do her 
duty and still save her child from suffering ? A 
few weeks ago she had resented the approach of a 
rival in the affections of her daughter. Now, she 
was ready to make any honorable sacrifice to secure 
that rival's success. 

“ If I only could get that will and read it again,” 
she thought. 

There seemed no way out of the tangle. The 
will was in a safe in Cambridge. * The house was 
closed. Richard Patton knew only what Leigh 
Wadsworth had told him. She must read his 
letter over again. 

Creeping from her lounge, she first locked the 
door and then swiftly opened the drawer and took 
from it a thick letter. Re-locking the drawer she 
unfastened her door and returned to her lounge. 

In the dim light of the heavily-curtained room 
she found great difficulty in reading the closely- 


AX ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


165 


covered pages, often stopping and hiding them, 
as some sound threatened an interruption, but 
returning to her investigation as soon as relieved 
of anxiety. 

It was a long and detailed letter and seemed to 
convey little comfort. 

“I’m sure I do not know what to do. If it was 
a mere matter of business — of money — it would 
be hard enough. As it is, it seems perfectly 
hopeless to try and meet Leigh’s wishes. One 
thing I must do. I must keep the whole matter 
from Faith until we get home. It would be cruel 
to burden her with such questions in the midst of 
all these bright days. Poor child ; I know how 
she will take it.” And hiding the letter under 
the pillows, Mrs. Holland bravely tried to calm 
herself, and prepare for the ordeal before her, of 
carrying a smiling face and misleading her danger- 
ously keen and sympathetic child, until the safe 
and proper time arrived for explanations and 
decisions. 

That she succeeded was but another proof of 
what a mother’s love can do and bear. 





































XX. 

VTEVER did the sun shine brighter than on 
that twelfth of September and never did the 
Adirondacks witness a lovelier spectacle than that 
bridal train winding its way across the blue Sara- 
nac, a living chain of grace, beauty and color. 
In the first six boats were relatives and friends, 
each boat containing four guests and two rowers. 

The seventh and eighth carried the four ushers 
and four bridesmaids, the latter dressed in cream- 
tinted cloth gowns with golden-rod embroidered 
on vests and about the high collars, and wearing: 
Rembrandt hats, of the same tint, trimmed with 
white flowing plumes and wreaths of the chosen 
flower. They carried large bouquets of it, too, 
tied with creamy ribbons, and seemed the very 
incarnation of the sunny, regal blossom. 

In the remaining boats came Mrs. Holland, 
Mrs. Dean and “Lady B .” — a quartette of pretty 
children carrying baskets of flowers, the groom 

and his best man, Stanley, and the bride — in sim- 

167 


168 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


pie, snowy white, veiled and statuesque, accom- 
panied by her maid-of -honor, Emma, and Jack, 
who gave her away. 

The lake and its shores were peopled by on- 
lookers from miles about. Guide boats, fishing 
boats, launches, and the Saranac — to say nothing 
of the useful but not strictly beautiful “ Loon,” 
lingered about the Island until the solemn ser- 
vice was over and the bridal train had made its 
return trip to the mainland and disappeared with- 
in the IVawbeek dining-room, where more flowers, 
boughs and ribbons decorated the handsomely 
set forth wedding-feast, and congratulations min- 
gled with witty and mirth-provoking sentiments, 
intended to disperse the inevitable shade of sad- 
ness that ever hangs over approaching separations. 

Never had such music been heard in the woods 
as Victor Harris and the trio evolved at that 
chapel wedding. 

It could be heard from shore to shore, so crystal 
clear was the day, and so vibratory the surround- 
ings. The air seemed palpitating with it. One 
of the guides told his next patron, who came a 
day or two after, that “ it beat anything in the 
way of music that I ever heard ; aiT what with all 
the pretty girls an' handsome clothes an’ fixin’s 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


169 


seemed just like a dream you expect ter wake up 
out of and don’t want ter.” 

When the launch moved away from the dock, a 
few hours later, carrying the bride and groom and 
a number of their guests up the lake to the Inn, 
en route to the outside world, radiant Ned Murray 
cried to Jack, “ Don’t forget to plan for next 
summer in time to count us in, wherever we are.” 

Daisy — beautiful, as happiness, youth and hope 
make fair women — looked a thousand times more 
than she dared trust herself to speak, and bravely 
smiled her good-bye as those on shore gave three 
long and hearty cheers “ for Mr. and Mrs. 
Murray.” 

“ Bon voyage ! ” shouted Jack — adding sotto voce 
mainly for Faith’s benefit — “ and may we soon 
follow your admirable example.” 





XXL 



|NE week later the log fires in Hillside Cottage 


were blazing merrily, for Jack Frost was 
painting his vivid colors upon the leaves and 
grasses and the mountains were vying with the 
sunset in glory. 

Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Holland were comfortably 
seated in the parlor busying their fingers with 
embroidery and their thoughts — as soon became 
evident — with much the same subject. 

Acting upon a sudden impulse the former asked : 
“ Where are the girls ? ” 

“ At Blossom Bungalow, playing cards. Do 
you stay at home this winter ? 99 

“ It depends largely upon Jack who I fancy may 
have plans of his own,” with a questioning look at 
Mrs. Holland, who made no answer but kept her 
eyes on her work. 

Mrs. Dean drew herself up a little, dropped her 
silks in her lap, and speaking with marked re- 
straint, said : 

“ I really think we mothers might confide in 


171 


172 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


each other a little, my dear. Jack says nothing, 
you say nothing, and Faith says nothing — to me. 
I dislike forcing the subject upon you, but — would 
you mind telling me if there is any reason why my 
boy is not acceptable to you, if he proves so to your 
daughter ? ” 

“ I am very fond of Jack,” promptly answered 
Mrs. Holland — dropping her work also and looking 
as earnest as Jack’s mother did dignified. “ As you 
have spoken of this matter I would like to tell you 
that it would be a great relief to me if I could see 
his wishes happily consummated. I have never said 
anything to you about our financial affairs ” 

Here Mrs. Dean made a gesture of protest. 

“ What can that have to do with the question ? 
Jack has a good profession, and there is money 
enough for all. When Mr. Dean left me the care 
of his fortune he considered it a sacred trust for 
his adopted son as well as for our daughters, and 
left the management and time of settlement entirely 
to my judgment. As the property would lose 
much of its value by division, I give an ample 
income to each of the children and they feel per- 
fectly independent. If Faith and Jack love each 
other, why not let them be happy in an early mar- 
riage ? I believe in them — don’t you ? ” 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


173 


“ Yes, indeed- 1 do — when all things are favor- 
able— but I must ask you to hear a little of my 
story, and then you can understand my position 
better. 

“You do not know that I was married very 
young and was left widowed, before I was of age. 
From my girlhood, I had a friend who always 
seemed like an older brother. He was an intimate 
friend of my husband's, and after his death did 
all in his power to assist me in settling his badly 
involved affairs. A few years later he offered 
himself, much to my sorrow ; and when he real- 
ized how impossible that hope was, he seemed to 
be unable to bear the disappointment — left the 
country, and stopped all communication with 
me or mine. His unquestionable suffering made 
me very unhappy, for I valued him highly as a 
friend. 

“I never heard anything more of him until, 
within the last year. Faith came into possession 
of all his property, — after his sudden death in 
Bombay, — by a will made years ago. 

“ There was a wish expressed in that will which 
may influence the matter of Faith's marriage. 

“ Last week I received news from my lawyer 
that an intimate friend of Mr. Wadsworth's, who 


174 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


was absent from Bombay at the time of his death, 
had just forwarded to him a letter found in Mr. 
Wadsworth’s private desk, on the outside of which 
was written, f To be opened by Kichard Patton, 
No. — Court Square, Boston, in case of my death. 
Leigh Wadsworth.’ With this letter, which Mr. 
Patton enclosed to me, he also sent another, writ- 
ten by the same friend, in which he told of stum- 
bling upon a man in Australia who had proved 
to be a fellow-passenger of an older brother of 
Mr. Wadswor th’s. The letter went on to tell 
of a chapter in the Wadsworth family-life that, 
strangely enough, was also developed in the one 
written me by Leigh Wadsworth — under cover to 
Mr. Patton. 

“It seems that Leigh Wadsworth had an older 
brother — a very much beloved brother, who, be- 
fore I knew him, was inveigled into marriage with 
a miserable woman, who literally ran away with 
him, out of the country, leaving no trace behind 
them. The years passed, and Leigh coming into 
all his father’s fortune, tried in vain to discover 
his brother’s fate, in the meanwhile managing 
matters so wisely as to greatly increase the prop- 
erty. When he made the unfortunate mistake 
of falling in love with me, and determined to 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


175 


leave tlie country, he made the will referred to, 
and because of his sense of justice and his keen 
desire also to make my future free from anxiety 
he simply asked that, should any other legal heirs 
to his father’s estate be discovered, their rights 
might be considered as equal to Faith’s. In the 
second letter Mr. Wadsworth’s friend gives the 
history of Leigh’s brother after he settled in Aus- 
tralia, which explains his never having been found 
by his American friends. 

“He changed his name upon his arrival in the 
new country and was known there only as John 
Grey son.” 

“ John Greyson ! — oh, my poor dear ! ! ” cried 
Mrs. Dean, springing to her feet and raising both 
her hands as though appealing to a visible pres- 
ence. She evidently entirely forgot Mrs. Hol- 
land, and the latter, startled out of all her train 
of thought, seemed spellbound as she watched her. 

“ Oh, how you must have suffered — poor, sensi- 
tive, tender-hearted man ! And you never told 
me half ! never, never.” 

Then she suddenly realized that she was not 
alone and forced herself to calmness. 

“ Mrs. Holland, have you a picture of Leigh 
Wadsworth ? ” she asked, — “ but wait a moment.” 


176 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


Passing into her own room she returned with a 
small ambrotype held open in her hand. 

“ Do you know that ?” she asked, as Mrs. Hol- 
land looked at it. 

“Why, I can hardly tell,” she answered. “It 
is very like him. The same eyes, the same fore- 
head, and — no, not the mouth — but it is very like 
him.” 

“ That was my first husband — John Greyson 
— John Wadsworth, really — and — Mrs. Holland — 
can’t you see ? do you not understand ? Jack — 
Jack Dean is his child. Oh, my dear — my dear. 
How strange, how wonderful ! Let me think a 
moment — and then I will tell you my story. No 
— I am not that dreadful woman ! I was a girl 
of nineteen when John Greyson, as I knew him, 
first came to my father’s house in Australia, on 
some business. He was a widower then, and ten 
years older than I. We were thrown together a 
good deal by circumstances and learned to love 
each other ; but there always was a shadow upon 
him that nothing quite dispelled. When he offered 
himself he told me frankly that I must accept 
him, if at all, willing to trust in his honor, and 
to leave his past untouched upon, for that was 
buried. 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


177 


“No one could look into John Grey son's face 
and question his nobility of nature. His faults 
were all lovable. He couldn’t battle with un- 
principled people, and believed every one as true 
as himself. Once he told me that if he could live 
to make an independent fortune we would go back 
to America, and I should have my rightful place 
among his old friends — but he was not strong 
when we were married, and even the happiness of 
our short life together — only six months — failed 
to save his life. I think he intended telling me 
his entire history before he died, but his weakness 
increased so rapidly that there never was an op- 
portunity. 

“ My father took me home, after he went, and 
when Jack came ” 

“ Jack came ! ” repeated Mrs. Holland — as if 
she had not yet grasped the trtith. 

“Yes, when Jack came I was glad that he 
looked so like his father. He is like him in all 
of his fine qualities.” 

The two women drew nearer to each other ; 
Miriam Holland full of eagerness ; Mrs. Dean, 
full of tender memories. Neither of them could 
quite understand the other yet. 

“But Mr. Dean ?” said the former, 

T 2 


178 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


Those words acted like magic upon Jack’s 
mother. 

“ He came to Sidney when Jack was two years 
old and — when he returned to America I came 
with him as his wife, and Jack as his adopted son. 
He was a noble man, too, and never made Jack 
feel his rights in the family group as anything 
short of those of a cherished child. Indeed, 
Jack never knew he was not his own son until 
after he died, six years ago.” She now grew 
brighter, and turning squarely about, put her hands 
on Miriam Holland’s shoulders. 

“ Don’t you see how wonderful this all is ? How 
stranger than any fiction is this solution of your 
problem ? What could be sweeter, happier, more 
just ? — Jack’s boy will make Leigh’s plans not 
only possible but perfect.” 

Mrs. Holland’s reserve now melted quite away, 
and, from that moment, the two mothers threw 
aside all constraint, and when Faith came in she 
stopped short, in her amazement at seeing the 
change in her mother’s face. 

All the lines of care and anxiety had disappeared. 
Her cheeks glowed like a young girl’s and, strangest 
of all, she and Mrs, Dean sat hand in hand — like 
two sisters, 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


.179 


It was a happy group that lingered long over 
the glowing logs that autumn night, and it was a 
happy couple that outstayed the others to make 
mutual promises, bearing upon the future that 
now seemed so rose-colored. 

When they parted Faith said, “ But Jack, dear, 
we must never forget to watch over our mothers — 
they are such sweet things.” 

tc I don’t understand why you were so worried 
after all, dear — knowing that I have Jack. What 
if some other man did take this money ? ” said 
Faith to her mother, in her room, still later. 

“ I did not tell you all there was in that letter. 
Faith. It was not the money that I thought so 
much of. Leigh Wadsworth’s love for me made 
him dwell upon the idea of ministering in some way 
to my happiness, and yet, his sense of justice com- 
pelled him to provide for the interests of Lis brother, 
if he should be found — or his brother’s family, if 
he had any. There was a clause in his letter that 
expressed the hope, in case his brother had a son 
and that son ever became known to you, that you 
would deal as kindly with him — as lovingly — as 
you could — f for my heart’s desire is to see the 
child of my only love at the head of the house of 


180 


AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


my fathers/ So he wrote, and— knowing your 
keen sense of honor, and not being quite sure that 
this affection for Jack would prove all that you 
both thought it — is it strange that I felt unnerved 
by all the responsibility ? ” 

Faith smiled, a little sadly. “ I am afraid, dear 
little mother, that you had good cause to doubt 
my stability — at least until since my accident. *1 
did not understand how much I was learning to 
depend on J ack until he carried me away that day, 
and I fell so helplessly into his tender keeping. 
But do you think I would give him up now ? 
Not for ten thousand millions and all the wishes 
ever wished by your good kind old friend, — but 
we will be just as nice to his nephew as we can 
be — r won’t we ? 99 laughing merrily. “ And no 
wonder you were always seeing something famil- 
iar in Jack’s looks and ways. His picture that 
I have looks so like his father’s — and you couldn’t 
tell which ambrotypes are which, the two brothers 
are so wonderfully alike. Oh, it is a remarkable 
story — and — I’m so thankful I’m in it ! ” 

* * H» * * * 

It was the first of October when the Wawbeek 
closed its doors and Blossom Bungalow and Hill- 


A last pull on the lake. 









AN ADIRONDACK ROMANCE. 


181 


side Cottage were left to tlie sole companionship 
of nature’s varying moods. 

For the last trip of the season the launch whis- 
tled “ time up,” as the Hollands, Deans, “ Lady 
B.” and Stanley took their places, with others, 
for their homeward journeys. 

For the last time they reviewed the whole lovely 
amphitheatre of slopes and forests. 

“ Good-bye, beautiful mountains ; good-bye, 
Wawbeek — for this year,” cried Faith. Then she 
turned to her lover, her eyes glistening, and her 
lips trembling — “ Jack,” she whispered, “ does it 
seem possible that it is only ten weeks since we 
came in ? ” 

He bent down and answered her with vehe- 
mence, “ It cannot he measured by weeks, my dar- 
ling, it is all my life.” 


THE END. 


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